Skip Bayless and LeBron James (Image Credits: IG and Imagn)

Skip Bayless Challenges LeBron James After Injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Heena Singh | Last updated Apr 5, 2026 5:35 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers just had their margin for error wiped out overnight. Injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have changed the vibe heading into the playoffs. What once looked like a balanced attack is now a pressure test on one name: LeBron James.

It’s a familiar setup, just with higher stakes. James, now 41, had shifted into more of a secondary role during the Lakers’ late-season push. However, with both stars sidelined (Doncic dealing with a hamstring strain and Reaves out with an oblique injury), the offense swings back to him and Anthony Davis. The Lakers still sit at 50-27, but the equation has changed fast.

On April 4, Skip Bayless tweeted, doubling down on his long-running challenge to James.

“OH, NO: NOW AUSTIN REAVES IS GONE, TOO??? LEBRON, NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING TRULY LEGENDARY – TAKE YOUR LAKERS ON A PLAYOFF RUN TO MAKE UP FOR GOING 2-12 IN YOUR LAST 14 PLAYOFF GAMES!!!”

OH, NO: NOW AUSTIN REAVES IS GONE, TOO??? LEBRON, NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING TRULY LEGENDARY – TAKE YOUR LAKERS ON A PLAYOFF RUN TO MAKE UP FOR GOING 2-12 IN YOUR LAST 14 PLAYOFF GAMES!!!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 4, 2026

Bayless had recently also praised James for adapting, but now wants the opposite – full takeover mode. With the Lakers facing the Dallas Mavericks on April 5, the spotlight is locked in on James.

LeBron James Fires Back at Critics, Calls Racism Claims “Absurd”

King James isn’t backing down. After viral comments about Memphis and Milwaukee sparked backlash, he shut down racism accusations on April 5, calling them “absurd.” The noise followed his appearance on a YouTube golf show where he joked about disliking road trips to both cities.

Critics, including Stephen A. Smith, questioned the tone, especially given that Memphis is a majority-Black city. The debate picked up fast online, turning a casual comment into a literal narrative about intent and perception.

LeBron James (Image Credits: Imagn)

LeBron James addressed it directly, per ESPN. He pushed back hard, saying it’s about travel fatigue, not race, and even joked he doesn’t like going back to Cleveland anymore. His message was that people, sometimes, just need to chill.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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