Skip Bayless slams LeBron James over Lakers scheduling complaint, cites "$50 million" salary: "You just have to suck it up"

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers face the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday at the Fiserv Forum. Fans are eagerly awaiting the marquee matchup, with LeBron and Anthony Davis set to square off against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

While excitement builds for this star-studded clash, LeBron wasn't exactly thrilled about the prospect of flying to Milwaukee, despite the hype surrounding the game.

On Wednesday, the four-time NBA champion expressed his frustration on X (formerly Twitter), questioning the Lakers' preseason schedule. The 20-time All-Star voiced his displeasure about having to fly to Milwaukee for just a single preseason game.

"Can someone please explain to me why we’re getting on a ✈️ and heading to Milwaukee for 1 pre-season game!?!?" LeBron wrote.

Veteran analyst Skip Bayless, a longtime critic of LeBron James, weighed in on the Lakers superstar questioning the preseason schedule. Citing the four-time MVP’s hefty salary, Bayless urged LeBron to "suck it up" and embrace his role as a leader.

"LeBron: They're paying you $50 million a yr. If they say they need you to fly to Milwaukee for a preseason game, you just have to suck it up & tough it out," Skip said.

"Yeah, somebody's doing a big-business favor for somebody else - you know how it works. But just be a leader & get thru it."

LeBron's main concern about flying to Milwaukee for just one game stemmed from the 1,750-mile trip, which is likely to leave the players feeling jet-lagged.

Third preseason game for the Lakers

The Lakers are set to play their third preseason game, having already kicked off their six-game exhibition series with a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. This was followed by a high-profile clash with the Phoenix Suns. Notably, all six of the Lakers' preseason games are scheduled to take place on the road.

LeBron James sat out the Lakers' preseason opener but made his return against Kevin Durant and the Suns, showing no signs of slowing down at age 39. The Lakers superstar delivered a stellar performance, playing just the first two quarters and logging 16:20 minutes on the court.

The four-time NBA Finals MVP scored 19 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also added five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and converted his only free throw attempt, showcasing his all-around impact in limited minutes.