Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith clash again over LeBron James' value to the Lakers

Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless are back on “First Take” together Thursday morning.

And per usual, these two got into a heated argument.

This time, the debate was about whether the Los Angeles Lakers are better off without LeBron James.

“Isn’t that obvious to you?”

Bayless said when Smith posed the question.

“No!” Smith said.

“I believe that Luka Dončić got sick and tired of having to share the stage with a LeBron James who couldn’t live up to being LeBron James anymore, as he hit 40 years of old,” Bayless added.

“Oh my god,” Smith responded while putting his hand over his face.

Bayless then praised Dončić for developing his game and working on his weaknesses over the years.

He mentioned Dončić’s physical shape and his defense.

“Now the stage has been cleared of a LeBron James who, I’ve gotta say this, his LA tenure was completely overrated,” Bayless added.

The debate about whether the Lakers are indeed better off without King James will likely continue throughout this season.

But witnessing Bayless and Smith — who worked together on “First Take” for four years until Bayless departed for Fox Sports in 2016 — reignite their rivalry over the LeBron-Lakers debate feels nostalgic for sports fans.

Regardless of which side of the debate they’re on.

This is the same duo that made “First Take” must-watch television from 2012 to 2016.

Their chemistry — part genuine animosity, part performance — turned sports debate into a ratings machine.

Bayless left ESPN in 2016 to join Fox Sports, where he launched “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” with Shannon Sharpe.

That show ran until 2024, when Sharpe departed and the program was later canceled.

Bayless has been without a full-time daily platform since.

Smith, meanwhile, stayed at ESPN and became the face of the network’s NBA coverage.

He also hosts “First Take” daily and serves as an executive producer on the show.

Thursday’s reunion was the first time the two have shared the “First Take” set since Bayless left.

The segment immediately went viral.

Fans on social media called it a throwback to the show’s golden era.

Others noted that Bayless has been increasingly critical of LeBron James in recent years.

Smith has often defended James’ legacy, creating a natural point of tension between the two.

Thursday’s exchange was no different.

Bayless argued that Dončić, not James, is now the more valuable player for the Lakers.

He suggested that Dončić grew tired of deferring to an aging star.

Smith rejected that premise entirely.

He argued that James, even at 40, remains one of the most impactful players in the league.

The Lakers are currently in the middle of a competitive Western Conference.

Their performance without James in the lineup has been a topic of debate among analysts.

Bayless used that as evidence for his position.

Smith countered with James’ per-game averages and his leadership.

The two went back and forth for several minutes.

The segment ended without a clear resolution.

That is by design — the debate is meant to continue.

ESPN has not announced whether Bayless will return for future appearances.

But given the response, another reunion seems likely.

The ratings for Thursday’s show are expected to be strong.

ESPN declined to comment on the segment beyond what aired.

Bayless has not publicly addressed the reunion on his social media.

Smith posted a clip of the exchange on X with the caption: “Some things never change.”

The post has been viewed over 2 million times.

This is not the first time the two have clashed in recent months.

In October, Smith called out Bayless for his indifference to Victor Wembanyama’s performance.

That exchange also went viral.

But Thursday marked the first time they faced each other in person.

The dynamic is different when they are in the same room.

Both men feed off the energy of the live audience and each other.

The result is television that feels unscripted.