LeBron James and Dillon Brooks have been after one another for years since the latter was on the up-and-coming Memphis Grizzlies team that trash-talked their way to a top seed in the NBA Western Conference before James’ Lakers promptly eliminated them.
After a recent Phoenix blowout win over the Lakers, Brooks taunted, danced, and jawed at the legendary Lakers star, goading him into a battle of insults and physicality.
On Sunday in Phoenix, the rivalry hit new heights, as the two players went back and forth all night before finally erupting into a physical altercation. After cooler heads prevailed, the Lakers went on a heated run to make it seem like they’d be repaying the favor of a blowout, only for Brooks and the Suns to stage an almost historic comeback in the final minutes to take the lead.
After Brooks hit the go-ahead 3 that appeared to be the dagger with only 12 seconds left, he went up to James and chest-bumped him.
The veteran James staggered back, holding his hands in the air as the referees called for a technical foul and ejected Brooks from the game following his theatrics the entire night.
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James would miss the technical, but then came up big with two out of three throws following a foul on his own 3-point shot to take the lead. He would then proceed to block Grayson Allen’s attempted winner to seal the deal for Los Angeles and get the final laugh over the Joker to his Batman.
Now 18-7, the Lakers will have a few days off before playing the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
