Skip Bayless brutally slams LeBron James and Steph Curry, questions duo's 'priorities' as 'love' grows

Veteran analyst Skip Bayless didn’t mince his words and made his feeling abundantly clear on the growing camaraderie between LeBron James and Steph Curry. The highly anticipated Lakers vs. Warriors matchup on Wednesday brought together two of basketball’s biggest stars, renewing their rivalry at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.

LeBron and Curry, each with four NBA championships to their name, have faced off numerous times in the playoffs and NBA Finals. Now in the twilight of their careers, both are on a quest for a fifth ring.

However, Bayless questioned their priorities after the two shared a heartwarming moment before tip-off on Christmas Day, suggesting their focus may no longer be solely on winning another championship.

"The fact that LeBron and Steph now love each other - they did not through all those Finals - tells you all you need to know about their late-career priorities and lack of realistic Finals expectations," Skip tweeted.

Skip’s reaction came in response to a viral video of LeBron James heading straight to Steph Curry during the pre-game shootaround. In the clip, the Lakers star is seen emerging from the tunnel, playfully attempting to block the Warriors superstar’s shot before sharing a warm embrace with him.

LeBron James on rivalry with Steph Curry

Before the Lakers vs. Warriors matchup, LeBron James shared his thoughts on facing Steph Curry. The former Miami Heat star expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to compete against one of the greatest players of all time, emphasizing that he cherishes these matchups and never takes them for granted.

"Any time you get an opportunity to be on the court and compete vs. one of the greatest to ever play this game, you don't take it for granted," LeBron said after the Lakers' 117-114 loss against the Detroit Pistons on Monday.

"I don't know how many more opportunities will get to go against each other, so it's always fun."

Meanwhile, LeBron and Curry played as teammates for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics and won a gold medal.