“Does he impact winning like a LeBron James?” – NBA analyst throws Kyrie Irving under the bus in fiery defense of his ex-teammate’s ‘no bag’ claims

LeBron James pushed back against critics during his Mind the Game podcast on Monday with LA Lakers teammate Luka Doncic and co-host Steve Nash. The four-time MVP said that doubters have sustained the narrative that he has “no bag,” which alluded to a lack of scoring or offensive skills. James countered that despite those claims, he already sits at “50 billion points.”

Fox Sports analyst Chris Broussard tossed his thoughts into the discussion on Tuesday.

“The most important things are productivity and impact on winning. Kyrie’s got the ‘bag.’ Does he impact winning like a LeBron James? You know what Kyrie doesn’t have as he has a better bag than LeBron, the court vision of LeBron, basketball IQ, things that some guys with the bag don’t have.”

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Kyrie Irving has had the reputation of being one of NBA history’s most skilled players. Irving’s handles and shotmaking are arguably the best the league has seen. And yet, he does not have the same championships or individual awards as LeBron James has.

Irving’s only championship came in 2016 when he and James carried the Cleveland Cavaliers from a 1-3 deficit to stun the Golden State Warriors. Uncle Drew went 39-13 in the postseason with his former teammate. Without James, he is 24-20 and still looking for a second Larry O’Brien Trophy.

For Chris Broussard, Kyrie Irving deserves praise for having the “bag,” but LeBron James has had significantly more productivity and impact on winning.

LeBron James claims NBA players can earn $200,000,000 without having a “bag”

LeBron James noted in the podcast that NBA teams hardly have more than two ball handlers and playmakers. He conceded that the LA Lakers have the luxury of having three such players, but other teams rarely have that option. The scenario allows players who don't have “the bag” to thrive.

(25:30 mark)

“Play the game the right way and I hope the younger generation don’t get swamped by saying, ‘I need a bag, I need a bag.’ Work on your game, know what you’re good at to help the team. … You can make $200 million in the NBA if you defend and shoot a corner 3-pointer.”

Luka Doncic could not agree more. The Slovenian added that if you can do the things James noted, anybody could play in the NBA.

According to King James, players who don’t have a fully developed game entering the NBA can improve as the years go by. With every improvement in skills, players can have a long and lucrative career in the pros.

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About the author

Michael Macasero

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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