"Luka is overrated" - Skip Bayless Unleashes Scathing Rant about LeBron James while Putting Lakers Coach on Blast for Defensive Struggles

On Thursday, LeBron James played the 20th Christmas Day game of his career. However, the LA Lakers were not in a festive mood after losing 119-96 to the Houston Rockets that night.

In the wake of this blowout affair, renowned LBJ critic Skip Bayless went on a tirade against James, Luka Doncic, and JJ Redick. Appearing on an episode of "Gil's Arena," Bayless had scathing words for each of these individuals.

"He [LeBron] won't play defense, and his podcast partner is not going to call him out," Bayless said, referring to Redick's stint as co-host of "Mind the Game" alongside James. "And I'm gonna say it again, Luka is overrated...he plays less defense than LeBron does."

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Interestingly, Bayless admitted that he feels some sympathy towards James, given the dynamic between Doncic and Austin Reaves. Whereas James and Doncic developed chemistry in the latter half of last season, Reaves has joined the Slovenian star in the limelight as LBJ missed the first few weeks of the 2024-25 campaign.

"LeBron's the third wheel now," Bayless argued. "I'm no big LeBron fan, but I feel sorry for him in this situation because it just feels wrong, wrong, wrong."

Though James (18 points on 7-for-13 FG shooting) and Doncic (25 points, five rebounds, seven assists) did their part on offense, the two perennial All-Stars and the rest of their teammates failed to curtail the Rockets' scoring production. All five of Houston's starters finished with double-digit scoring, led by Amen Thompson's 26-point outburst and Kevin Durant's 25-point performance.

To Bayless' point, both James and Doncic will have to avoid becoming liabilities on defense if the Lakers are to go far in the postseason.

"Their relationship has run its course": Kendrick Perkins says that LeBron James' best option is to leave Lakers

On the episode of ESPN's "First Take" following the NBA's Christmas Day slate, Kendrick Perkins offered some unsolicited advice for James' career.

"LeBron and the Lakers, their relationship has run its course," Perkins said. "They need to figure out a solution, and the solution is not him being in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform."

Perkins, who pointed out that he'd known James since their AAU days, highlighted the four-time NBA champion's demeanor in the game against the Rockets. According to Perkins, James' body language indicated that he was "not engaged," a sign pointing to a compromised relationship between him and his team.

Edited by Simoun Victor Redoblado