Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks has built a reputation for trash talk after big wins, and he built on that infamy Wednesday by doing something many players would not: Take a shot at LeBron James.
After his team’s 103–93 win over the Lakers, Brooks was asked about a heated exchange the two had during the game.
“I don’t care, he’s old,” Brooks told reporters after the game. “I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5. He wanna say something when I got my fourth foul.
“I poke bears,” he continued. “I don’t respect no one till they come and give me 40 [points]. I pride myself on, you know, what I do is defense and taking on any challenge on the board.”
Classic Dillon Brooks on his confrontation with LeBron James: “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 20, 2023
And Brooks had plenty more to say. pic.twitter.com/uWLONrubPZ
James finished the game with 28 points and 12 rebounds on 12-for-23 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Brooks tallied 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting and picked up five fouls.
NBA players have avoided egging on James with trash talk, sometimes out of respect for the four-time champion or just to avoid giving him any extra motivation. Brooks’s comments naturally caused quite a reaction from Twitter:
Godzilla could stub his toe and Dillon Brooks would still be there to clap in his ear.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 20, 2023
Dillon Brooks when LeBron gives him 39 instead of 40 pic.twitter.com/Z6fkeivGMP https://t.co/QDjnLmlCEE
— Russ' TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) April 20, 2023
The perfect Dillon Brooks representation 😭 pic.twitter.com/wwzylGMcUD
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 20, 2023
Dillon Brooks is special. I can’t remember the last player I saw who can piss EVERYBODY off.
— 500 🏎 (@Kameron_Hay) April 20, 2023
Dillon Brooks is mostly talk. If only he could shoot with his mouth.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 20, 2023
LeBron in game 3. Good luck Dillon Brooks! pic.twitter.com/j7lLvIbYs4
— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) April 20, 2023
Dillon Brooks energy all night pic.twitter.com/VxOOXc3ejo
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 20, 2023
lebron when he’s at 38 points against dillon brooks in game 3: pic.twitter.com/xdcHNJl7iA
— alex (@steven_lebron) April 20, 2023
