George Karl, a well-respected figure in the NBA community and former coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, recently took to Twitter to express his strong disapproval of Skip Bayless, a polarizing sports media personality. Karl has a reputation for being forthright, often unfiltered, and not shying away from sharing his opinion, even if it might ruffle some feathers.
This latest saga began unfolding in the wake of the NBA Finals Game 2, where the Denver Nuggets, a team Karl once coached, faced the Miami Heat. As the match was playing out, Bayless decided to critique Nikola Jokic’s performance. He claimed that Jokic’s successful shots were more luck than skill, referring to them as “greased” shots. This comment triggered Karl’s ire, leading him to take to Twitter with a strong response, calling Bayless “an embarrassment to sports media”.
This man is an embarrassment to sports media https://t.co/eyLutuYf6h
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) June 5, 2023
Bayless, who has been a subject of controversy in the sports industry, recently made headlines due to his split with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe. Their partnership on the show ‘Undisputed’ came to an end after Sharpe agreed to a contract buyout with FS1 following the NBA Finals. This recent conflict with Karl further highlights the controversial nature of Bayless’s media presence, a figure who is often the target of criticism from NBA players.
Related: Where is Shannon Sharpe headed next?
It’s not the first time Bayless has been in the hot seat. His tenure at ESPN ended abruptly following the rise of Stephen A. Smith on First Take, which led to Bayless joining FS1 for his own show. His controversial comments and interactions with other sports figures have often sparked conversations about the role and responsibility of sports media personalities. Now more than ever, people are calling him out on his behavior.
As this story continues to unfold, all eyes are on how Bayless will respond to Karl’s critique when he’s back on the air. As for Karl, his outspoken nature continues to make waves in the sports world, prompting discussions around the state of sports media and its role in our consumption of sports.