Dillon Brooks’s confidence to provoke the NBA’s top stars with his pesky antics on the court is unmatched. The latest assignment for the Grizzlies’ forward is limiting the production of Lakers superstar LeBron James in the Western Conference first-round matchup between Memphis and Los Angeles.
Following the Grizzles’ 103–93 win in Game 2 on Wednesday, Brooks did not disappoint in his postgame comments about the four-time NBA champion after staring James down during multiple occasions in the game.
“I don’t care, he’s old,” Brooks said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I was waiting for that, I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5, he wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He shouldn’t have said that earlier on. I poke bears. I don’t respect anyone until they come and give me 40.”
But before Brooks adopted his mantra and edgy personality, he was once singing the praises of the 19-time All-Star. One of Brooks’s tweets from high school surfaced social media on Thursday.
“All mans lebron is the best player in the nba,” Brooks tweeted back in 2012.
all mans lebron is the best player in the nba
— Dillon Brooks (@dillonbrooks24) April 30, 2012
Considering the timeframe of the tweet, James was in pursuit of his first NBA title with the Heat, showcasing an elite level of greatness. Eleven years later, Brooks finds himself guarding the player he considers a “legend” and one he desired to face at the conclusion of the regular season.
“Obviously, I have some respect [for LeBron James],” Brooks said after the game. “He’s a legend. … But when I’m on that floor, you’re just another player to me. I don’t care who you are. You’re just 6’ 8”, 270 pounds, and you’re a basketball player.”
As the series shifts to Los Angeles tied at 1–1, the in-game commotion and antics will only heat up between the two. Brooks can only hope his trolling will prevent James from notching 40 points and help Memphis secure one or two wins inside Crypto.com Arena.
