{"id":698245,"date":"2026-05-27T16:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/698245\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:55:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:55:09","slug":"the-nba-wants-them-gone-skip-bayless-claims-major-television-networks-are-actively-pulling-for-an-okc-elimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/698245\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThe NBA wants them gone\u201d – Skip Bayless claims major television networks are actively pulling for an OKC elimination"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is hardly ever a high-pressure, intense playoff series without Skip Bayless<\/a> delivering a controversial take that sparks debate across the NBA landscape.<\/p>\n

This time, his attention has turned to the 2026 Western Conference Finals between the OKC Thunder<\/a> and the San Antonio Spurs<\/a>, where he speculated that the NBA is deliberately preventing the young Thunder team from enjoying continued success.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s no surprise that, despite OKC establishing unparalleled dominance in the NBA, registering league-best records in back-to-back seasons, there is a stain on their playing style \u2014 they constantly look for favorable calls and prioritize theatrics on the hardwood.<\/p>\n

Bayless added fuel to that narrative, arguing that a team that often gets labeled as \u201cfree-throw merchants\u201d is now itself on the opposite side of the whistle – something which isn\u2019t happening by accident.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Spurs have shot 17 more free throws than the Thunder. So the free-throw merchant is not getting to the free-throw line any more than the Alien is,\u201d Bayless said. \u201cThe NBA wants them gone. The networks, they don\u2019t want the Thunder to win.\u201d<\/p>\n