‘No Way in Hell,’ ‘I Started Laughing’ — 3-Time NBA Champion Mocks LeBron James Over Viral Lowlight, Draws Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant Comparison
· Yahoo Sports
LeBron James’ explanation for passing up a fast-break dunk opportunity, only to have his layup blocked by Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Slawson, didn’t sit well with three-time NBA champion Byron Scott. The former Los Angeles Laker bluntly questioned the Philadelphia 76ers star’s reasoning and brought NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant into the discussion.
Scott was responding to comments James made on his “Mind the Game” podcast last Tuesday about his thought process leading up to the viral lowlight.
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Byron Scott Ridicules LeBron James’ Mindset in Year 24
Speaking on Monday’s edition of “Byron Scott’s Fast Break,” Scott recalled his initial reaction to James’ explanation for how his breakaway layup ended up getting erased by a relatively unknown player on a two-way contract.
“When I first saw that, No. 1, I started laughing. … I’m not saying I’m on LeBron’s level … but as a competitor and a guy who’s had breakaways with guys chasing me down, I ain’t never thought, ‘Well, maybe I shouldn’t try to dunk this.’ My thought was, ‘Dunk this [expletive],'” Scott said.
The 65-year-old called James “one of the greatest of all time,” but still measured his “business decision” against the ultra-competitive mentality of two other league icons:
“So, the first thing that came to my mind when I watched this podcast is Kobe and MJ. That’s the first thing that came to my mind. No way in hell they think about that dude back there blocking their shot. They thinking about dunking the [expletive] out that ball.”
Scott briefly acknowledged that James’ age and mileage might justify his hesitation but still struggled to accept his rationale.
“Maybe when you get to that status, and that amount of years that you’ve covered so much, maybe you do think about [expletive] like that,” Scott added.
“… I guess going to the basket and doing all the dunks that he did all these years, dunking on people all these years, at his age now, he’s thinking about maybe taking it easy? I just don’t see that.”
The play unfolded early in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Oct. 28, with the score tied at 25-25. James stole the ball from Slawson and took off on the fast break, but the 27-year-old forward raced back and swatted his layup attempt from behind.
Officials initially called a foul, but the Pacers successfully challenged the ruling. Philadelphia went on to win 114-109, with James posting a 13-point, 10-assist double-double. Still, the block sparked animated reactions as the four-time MVP got a “taste of his own medicine” after years of pulling off similar chase-down plays himself.
Some also pointed to the moment as a sign of the 41-year-old’s decline.
James later explained that he was well aware of Slawson closing in from behind and considered the possibility of getting hurt if he attempted a dunk.
“I got a steal, and in my rearview mirror, I seen him hauling [expletive] to get back on defense. The first thing in my mind was like, ‘If I try to take off and dunk this ball, this kid looks like he’s gonna [expletive] me up,'” James said.
“I’m like, ‘There’s no way I’m about to take off. I can’t afford — if I try to take off — the risk vs. the reward; I’mma lay this ball up,’ and he blocked it.”
“If I go up and try to dunk this ball and this kid [expletive] me up, I’m out two to four weeks. … 12 years ago, or I mean, for me, [expletive], it could have been even five years ago, four years ago, I would have probably taken off,” James continued.
James left no doubt that he was weighing the injury risk above all else in a 2026-27 campaign that has seen injuries pile up around the league.
While Scott seemingly understood why the league’s oldest player might think that way, he couldn’t get past the idea of Jordan or Bryant handling the situation differently.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.