The Houston Rockets faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night, and it was the first encounter between Dillon Brooks and LeBron James this season since their infamous feud in the 2023 NBA playoffs.
The ongoing story between Dillon Brooks, and LeBron James' feud has been the talk of the league since the beginning of the NBA Playoffs in 2023.
It's not the most obvious NBA rivalry. One is one of the greatest NBA players of all-time. The other is Dillon Brooks, a scrappy Mississauga native who relishes playing the villain. Here is their ongoing rivalry, explained.
Feud Begins in the 2023 Playoffs: "I Poke Bears"
During the first round of the 2023 Western Conference NBA Playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies would tie the series against the Los Angeles Lakers in game two. Brooks would take further actions after the win and address the media about his thoughts on the aging LeBron James. According to ESPN, Brooks 27 called James 38 “old.”
Brooks added, "I poke bears. I don't respect anyone until they come and give me 40."
The next game of the series, Brooks was ejected from the game after 17 seconds into the second half after he struck James in the groin region, resulting in a flagrant foul number two. In addition to the loss and being thrown out of the game, Brooks addressed that he did not regret his remarks towards James.
"No, that's who I am. I don't regret it. I'm a competitor. I compete,” Brooks told reporters. He would add-on, saying that his trash-talking methods are what fuels him up and gets him going throughout the game against his personal matchups.
Brooks Stops Talking to Media
James would tell ESPN reporters his thoughts on Brooks remarks, "At the end of the day, I think my résumé and what I've done for this league speaks for itself. I don't really get caught up in any comments like that.”
Throughout the course of the series Brooks would no longer speak to the media after the Grizzles would lose in games three, four and six. This would result into Brooks being fined $25,000 by the NBA for violating league rules governing media interview access.
LeBron Responds
LeBron got the last laugh in the playoffs, and he responded to the bear poking comment on social: "If you ever see me fighting in the forest with a Grizzly bear, help the bear." He also responded on Twitter.
Stephen A. Smith Says LeBron is Coming for Dillon Brooks
Team Canada had a huge showing at the FIBA World Cup in September, capturing bronze and qualifying for the Olympics. Will beating the US on the international stage be enough to get LeBron to represent his country at the 2024 Olympics? Stephen A. Smith seemed to think so.
Drake Shades Brooks on 'For All The Dogs'
Isn't Drake supposed to have a fellow Canadian's back? The Boy went after Brooks' penchant for running his mouth with the line "Shawty ran some Dillon Brooks / can't believe this n— talkin', damn," on "Another Late Night."
"Dillon the Villain" is Born
To mark his new season with his new team, the Houston Rocket changed his social feeds to "Dillon the Villain." He's embracing it. In his preseason debut, he was ejected for punching Daniel Theis in his private parts.
LeBron Has Kind Words
Before their long-awaited rematch, LeBron offered praise for Brooks, saying "he has worthy of the contract that he got” and that he's been putting in the work since Oregon.
The Rematch, The Standoff
Seven months go by we enter the first matchup between the two, with Brooks being a new member of the Houston Rockets. Here we go again, where the newest Rocket member addressed to the media his game-plan against James. "Ready to lock him up," Brooks told the Houston Chronicle.
The Houston Rockets would go on to get the victory in their first match up 128-94, against the Lakers this season. Mid-game, the pair squared off face-to-face in an awkward standoff.
