Skip Bayless: “LeBron could have beaten Kobe Bryant record”

LeBron James could have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers’ franchise record for the most points ever scored by a single player in one game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Fox Sports analyst Skip Bayless. NBA star LeBron James made a triumphant return to Cleveland and received a standing ovation. James was instrumental in the Los Angeles Lakers 109-105 victory. LeBron, who left the Cavaliers for the second time in the close season had 32 points and 14 rebounds on the night at the Quicken Loans Arena. James could have scored more than Kobe Bryant on his famous 81-point night against the Toronto Raptors back in January 2006. “The truth was, LeBron could have named his number. Seriously.  If he had really committed to eclipsing Kobe’s 81, I think he could have scored 82. If he’d really wanted to score 82 last night I believe he could have. “The difference was obviously when he returned the first time, Miami back to Cleveland, he played angrily. The fans were angry, there was retribution night involved on both sides.  He got even with them for burning his jerseys by scoring 38 and it felt like 38. The 32 seemed like he just rolled out of bed and got 32, in fact, I was a little surprised at the end, ‘Wait he got 32 total?! How did he get 32?!’ “It was hard for him to have the heart to rub it in on that team. That team, as bad as it is, it’s without Kevin Love, without JR Smith, without George Hill, it’s pretty pathetic right now. They go most of the game with David Nwaba guarding LeBron. Are you kidding?! David Nwaba? I haven’t watched him play very much but he was their big offseason pick-up, he’s 6ft 4ins and LeBron is 6ft 9ins. “The other defender who would spell him occasionally was Cedi Osman. Cedi on LeBron? It’s like a joke, a cartoon I’m watching. It’s like child’s play.  Slowly but surely he started playing without energy or urgency because how can you dredge it up? It was a LeBron love-fest so he has such mixed emotions, so he was like, ‘Am I really going to pour it on? Or am I going to pull back? How am I going to play this?’”

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