Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless reignite Lakers feud

Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless reignited their long-dormant rivalry Thursday morning on ESPN’s “First Take.”

The two iconic sports personalities shared a set for the first time since Bayless left the show in 2016.

The subject that sparked the fireworks was the Los Angeles Lakers.

More specifically, whether the Lakers are better off without LeBron James.

Bayless opened the debate by answering Smith’s question with direct confidence.

“Isn’t that obvious to you?” Bayless said.

Smith shot back immediately.

“No!” Smith said.

Bayless then laid out his reasoning in detail.

“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.

Smith’s reaction was visceral.

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

Bayless continued his argument by praising Dončić’s development.

He noted that Dončić has worked on his weaknesses over the years, including his physical shape and his defense.

Then Bayless delivered the line that seemed to hit hardest.

“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.

The reunion was a one-off appearance, not a permanent return for Bayless.

Bayless currently works for Fox Sports, where he hosts “Undisputed.”

Smith remains the face of “First Take” on ESPN.

The two have a famously combative history on air.

Their on-camera chemistry was a major factor in the show’s rise in popularity during the early 2010s.

Bayless left ESPN in 2016 to join Fox Sports 1.

Since then, the two have occasionally traded barbs from a distance but rarely shared the same studio.

Thursday’s segment was the first time they sat across from each other in years.

The Lakers debate itself is rooted in recent NBA history.

LeBron James joined the Lakers in 2018 after four years back with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He led the Lakers to an NBA championship in the 2020 bubble season.

But the team has struggled since then, missing the playoffs entirely in 2022 and losing in the first round in 2023 and 2024.

In the summer of 2026, James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent.

That move reshaped the Lakers’ roster and left Dončić as the clear focal point.

Dončić, acquired by the Lakers in a blockbuster trade in early 2025, has thrived in the increased responsibility.

Through the first weeks of the 2026-27 season, Dončić is averaging near triple-double numbers.

The Lakers are off to a strong start, fueling Bayless’s argument that the team is better off without James.

Smith, however, pushed back hard during the segment.

He argued that James’s legacy with the Lakers is unfairly minimized.

Smith pointed to the 2020 championship as undeniable proof of James’s impact.

He also noted that James’s departure was driven by the Lakers’ front-office decisions, not his declining play.

The back-and-forth was classic Smith-Bayless: loud, fast, and personal.

Neither man backed down.

Both used the full range of their on-air personas.

Bayless was calm and cutting, delivering his takes with the certainty of a man who believes he’s stating the obvious.

Smith was animated and incredulous, treating Bayless’s claims as near-heresy.

The segment has already generated significant buzz on social media.