Skip Bayless is doing what Skip Bayless does best — stirring the pot. And this time, the 74-year-old media personality has soccer fans, NBA followers, and Swifties all talking at once.
During Tuesday’s FIBA World Cup Group J matchup between Argentina and Algeria inside Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, Lionel Messi delivered a history-making hat trick that had the crowd electrified. But Bayless wasn’t just impressed — he was inspired to make some of his boldest comparisons yet.
“Jalen Brunson has a little Messi in him,” Bayless posted on X, referencing the New York Knicks guard who won NBA Finals MVP in 2026. The reaction was immediate and fierce, with most commenters zeroing in on the phrase “a little” and taking it as an insult to Messi’s legacy. It’s worth noting that Bayless may have simply been drawing parallels between their competitive fire, big-game execution, and court vision — an observation that, on its own, seems harmless. But in the world of Bayless, nothing is ever just harmless.
The veteran sportswriter-turned-podcaster has never shied away from hot takes, but this one seemed relatively tame compared to his past work. That is, until he went for the jugular late in Argentina’s 3-0 win.
“Tonight at Arrowhead, Messi was even bigger than Taylor Swift,” Bayless remarked. Swift, the 14-time Grammy winner engaged to Chiefs star Travis Kelce, has become a fixture of NFL coverage, drawing endless camera time during Kansas City games. Bayless clearly knew exactly what he was doing — poking the bear that is the Swift-Kelce fanbase while elevating Messi’s stature in the same breath.
As for Messi himself, the 2022 World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner turns 39 on June 24, but showed no signs of slowing down in KC. His hat trick was a masterclass in positioning, finishing, and sheer will. However, the match wasn’t without controversy — Messi made a challenge that could have drawn a red card under stricter officiating. The referee let it slide, and Argentina fans will undoubtedly focus on the brilliance rather than the blemish.
Now, all eyes turn to Bayless, who is almost certain to have more Messi-fueled hot takes ready as the tournament progresses. Whether fans love him or hate him, he’s guaranteed to keep the conversation going.
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