Grumpy Old Man Erupts: Demands Lakers Star Quit Golf in Bizarre Cloud Shouting Session

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Enter Skip Bayless. The longtime LeBron critic couldn’t let James enjoy a swing without issuing a stern warning. “LEBRON: Shouldn’t you be in the lab working on your free throws instead of wasting your time watching your new obsession — golf???” Bayless tweeted, eliciting a flood of reactions from fans. “He doesn’t know you bro,” one wrote. “Please let him enjoy his life!” pleaded another.

Bayless’s criticism didn’t stop there. On a weekend video, he warned James to “stop playing golf now while you have a chance before it gets a hold of you and won’t let you go.” This, from a media personality whose career has long revolved around twisting himself into pretzel knots over LeBron’s choices, both on and off the court. Over the years, Bayless has lambasted James for everything from taking contract options to simply enjoying family time.

Recently, Bayless even critiqued James for exercising his player option for 2025-26, writing: “In year 23, at age 41. You couldn’t just take, I don’t know, 20 or 30 million to dramatically enhance the Lakers’ chances of winning now… LeBron, do you want to take what you’re worth or do you want to win at any cost?” The implication: even LeBron’s financial decisions are fair game for Bayless’s hypercritical lens.

Bayless’s obsession is particularly striking when compared to reality. LeBron remains one of the league’s best 15 players, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season while shooting 51.3% from the field. He consistently contributes at an elite level, even mentoring a younger star like Luka Dončić, who will enter 2025-26 as the Lakers’ centerpiece. Yet Bayless chooses to focus on peripheral matters — hobbies, contracts, and praise from peers like Tom Brady — framing them as evidence of some alleged moral or competitive failing.

In one viral rant, Bayless criticized Brady for calling LeBron “the greatest,” claiming the quarterback was merely polishing his image. “LeBron James just can’t help himself. He just can’t hide his runaway insecurity,” Bayless said. Meanwhile, LeBron continues to perform at an elite level, fully capable of laughing off the commentary, while Bayless’s commentary reads more like the ramblings of an addled old man than a reasoned sports critique.

This fixation is not just a quirk — it has become a defining trait of Bayless’s recent output. Fans, journalists, and even casual NBA observers have noticed that he devotes disproportionate attention to LeBron’s off-court activities, creating a narrative of obsession rather than analysis. Golf, social media posts, contract decisions — nothing is too small for Bayless to dissect and criticize.

For Lakers fans and neutral observers alike, the lesson is clear: LeBron James is still living his best life on and off the court, while Skip Bayless is fixated on every minor choice the star makes. His obsession, often veering into absurdity, only underscores the longevity and resilience of James’s career. Whether on the hardwood or the golf course, LeBron will continue to excel — and Bayless will likely continue to rant, his commentary serving as a reminder that even the greatest players in the world cannot satisfy everyone.