Fact Check: Is Skip Bayless Really Leaving Undisputed to Replace JJ Redick on LeBron James' Mind the Game Podcast? (2024)

As Skip Bayless steps down from his co-hosting role at FS1’s Undisputed, rumors are swirling online that he might have done it to join LeBron James' Mind the Game podcast. How true is this news? Let's find out!

By Natasha Bose

Published on Jul 16, 2024 | 10:39 AM IST| 65.4K

Is Skip Bayless Really Replacing JJ Reddick on LeBron's Mind The Game Podcast? Find Out

In this Article

Why is Skip Bayless leaving FS1's Undisputed?
So, what's the real reason Skip Bayless is leaving FS1's Undisputed?
Skip Bayless' craziest LeBron James takes

End of an era? Skip Bayless is stepping down as co-host of Undisputed after eight years, as first reported by The Post. Bayless has been a part of FOX Sports since 2016, following a 12-year stint at ESPN.

This marks the second summer in a row where the show loses one of its main hosts. In June 2023, Shannon Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, left the show after co-hosting with Bayless since it began in 2016. Sharpe then joined ESPN's First Take, partnering with Stephen A. Smith, and has recently signed a multiyear contract extension with ESPN.

Verdict: Fake News

Why is Skip Bayless leaving FS1's Undisputed?

Definitely not to join LeBron James! The rumor that Bayless is replacing JJ Redick on LeBron James' podcast was spread by NBACentel on X, formerly Twitter. For those unaware, NBACentel is a parody account, playing off the name NBACentral.

This parody plays on Bayless's constant criticism of the NBA star. Bayless is known as one of the harshest NBA analysts, frequently targeting LeBron James. Over the years, Bayless has criticized LeBron on numerous occasions, reflecting his well-known animosity towards the Lakers star.

For instance, when LeBron broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record, people wondered how Bayless would react. Although he praised LeBron in the weeks leading up to the milestone, he still criticized James's acceptance speech, leaving fans to question why Bayless holds such animosity towards him. The answer seems to be that Bayless's hate is mostly for entertainment.

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Bayless believes he doesn't hate LeBron but thinks James lacks the clutch gene and dominance of Michael Jordan. Therefore, he doesn't see LeBron as the greatest of all time.

READ MORE: Anthony Edwards Shines as 'Major Star' in Netflix Docuseries Also Ft LeBron James; Reveals NBA Insider

So, what's the real reason Skip Bayless is leaving FS1's Undisputed?

The exact reasons are still unclear, but it could be due to declining viewership. Fox Sports executives built the debate show around Bayless's personality, which worked well with Shannon Sharpe. However, after Sharpe left for ESPN in 2023, the show struggled to replicate its success.

Sports Media Watch editor Jon Lewis reported that an episode in late February drew only 50,000 viewers and was outperformed by a first-round Dubai Open tennis match, which averaged 54,000 viewers on the Tennis Channel.

Skip Bayless' craziest LeBron James takes

Throughout his career, Bayless has made some wild comments about LeBron. While he insists he doesn't hate LeBron, some of his remarks suggest otherwise. One of Bayless's craziest takes was in 2012 when he claimed that LeBron wasn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but Tiago Splitter was.

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Another outrageous claim came in 2010, when Bayless compared LeBron to Batman and Robin, saying LeBron's skills were like Batman, but his intangibles were more like Robin.

Despite these comments, LeBron seems unaffected by Bayless's criticism and has continued to excel in his career.

READ MORE: LeBron James Left in Tears Watching Kevin Garnett Losing It Over Mets Star Edwin Diaz’s Iconic Trumpet Entrance

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FAQs

Fact Check: Is Skip Bayless Really Leaving Undisputed to Replace JJ Redick on LeBron James' Mind the Game Podcast? ›

Why is Skip Bayless leaving FS1's Undisputed? Definitely not to join LeBron James! The rumor that Bayless is replacing JJ Redick on LeBron James' podcast was spread by NBACentel on X, formerly Twitter. For those unaware, NBACentel is a parody account, playing off the name NBACentral.

What is going on with Undisputed? ›

Futterman also added that Bayless' former show, Undisputed — which hasn't been on air since Bayless' unceremonious final show on Aug. 2 — will not return.

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Is Skip Bayless still working for Fox? ›

Fox Sports 1 will shake up its morning schedule following the exit of hot-talk host Skip Bayless, charting a new era in its bid to vie with Disney's ESPN. Two new shows, “Breakfast Ball” and “The Facility,” will anchor mornings on the cable network, starting in the fall.

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What is Skip Bayless say about Bronny James? ›

“I think Bronny will be pretty good,” Bayless said on his pod this week. “I think he'll become a clutch three-point shooter. I've always gotten the feeling that Bronny had a bigger clutch gene than his father does. McDonald's [High School All-Star] Game he was in the spotlight.

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Is Skip retiring? ›

Skip Bayless is leaving FS1 after eight years at the network. The long-time co-host of Undisputed will have his last show later this summer, according to the New York Post's Ryan Glasspiegel. This marks the second summer in a row that an Undisputed co-host will depart the network.

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Why did Jen leave Undisputed? ›

In 2022, Taft signed an extension at Fox Sports but left Skip and Shannon: Undisputed after going on maternity leave in February.

Does Undisputed have a new host? ›

"Undisputed" is returning to FS1 in a big way. Skip Bayless is back on the airwaves with a host of new co-stars, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, former five-time Pro Bowler Richard Sherman, and former three-time Pro Bowler Keyshawn Johnson. The new-look show will debut Monday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

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Did Skip Bayless leave? ›

The controversial take artist is leaving Fox Sports 1 and his marquee after nearly eight years.

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Who is Skip married to? ›

Ernestine Sclafani

Skip Bayless / Spouse (m. 2016)

What did LeBron James say about Bronny? ›

"I don't know if people really understand Bronny," LeBron said in a recent interview with ESPN. "He doesn't care. I actually care a little bit. When I came in [as a rookie], I wanted people to like me, and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career. ...

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What overall is Bronny James? ›

James is rated a 68 overall—tied with 16 other players for the lowest overall rating among the rookie class. But he's rated just two points behind Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (70 overall), who the Lakers selected in the first round with the No. 17 pick.

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Why is Skip Bayless called Skip? ›

His father, John Sr., immediately began calling him Skip—his father also had called his mother "Skip", as in "skipper of the ship". The name instantly stuck, and Bayless was never called John by his parents, to the point that he eventually had his name legally changed to Skip.

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Has Undisputed been cancelled? ›

On August 5, 2024, FS1 began showing reruns of The Herd with Colin Cowherd and First Things First in Undisputed's time slot with the fate of the show unknown. A week later, it was confirmed that Undisputed had been cancelled by FS1.

How old is skips from regular show? ›

Skips is 505 years old at the beginning of the series and 512 at the end. Over time, he has lost some hair, which he now styles into a combover. Despite being immortal, his appearance remains unchanged, except that he now wears cut jean shorts in later episodes.

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Why did Shannon Sharpe left Skip Bayless? ›

The departure of Shannon Sharpe from the show was attributed to the escalating tensions between him and Skip Bayless, which came to a head in January 2023.