LeBron James vs. Dillon Brooks: NBA Playoffs take beef between Lakers, Grizzlies forwards to new level

Jordan Greer

•
LeBron James vs. Dillon Brooks: NBA Playoffs take beef between Lakers, Grizzlies forwards to new level image

Back in 2012, long before he became basketball's biggest heel, Dillon Brooks was just a teenager watching the NBA Finals. After LeBron James led the Heat to the title, Brooks sent out a simple tweet acknowledging James' greatness.

Oh, how times have changed.

More than a decade later, the Grizzlies forward finds himself in the middle of a heated postseason battle with James and the Lakers.

But this intense beef goes beyond the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

MORE: Fact-checking Brooks' bold claim about defending LeBron

LeBron James vs. Dillon Brooks beef history

LeBron James hits Dillon Brooks with 'too small' taunt

Is this where the animosity started?

Late in the fourth quarter of a January 2021 game, James drilled a few clutch shots over Brooks, then pulled out the "too small" taunt.

Shannon Sharpe incident and aftermath

In January 2023, Brooks traded harsh words with Sharpe, a longtime James supporter who was close to the action in a courtside seat.

The initial back-and-forth eventually brought in multiple Grizzlies players and Ja Morant's father, Tee.

After that game, Brooks brushed off the altercation with Sharpe, calling the Pro Football Hall of Famer a "blogger." However, he had some thoughts on defending James.

"He doesn't want to go left. I was just making him go left all game," Brooks said. "Then he would settle, or he would pass the ball. And then play physical with him, continuously bump him all of the time and don't let him take easy shots."

Dillon Brooks wants LeBron James in first round

Before the Lakers' 2023 Play-In Tournament game against the Timberwolves, Brooks told reporters that he "wouldn't mind playing LeBron in a seven-game series."

"The legacy is there. First time back in the playoffs, knock him out right away," Brooks said (via The Commercial Appeal's Damichael Cole). "They'll test us good. They got good pieces, good players. That'll be a good first-round matchup for us."

Brooks got his wish. Los Angeles escaped with a 108-102 overtime win against Minnesota, setting up the No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup in the Western Conference bracket.

LeBron James listens in on Dillon Brooks' chat with Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins

James decided to eavesdrop on a conversation between Brooks and Jenkins during Game 1 of their first-round series.

Did James learn the secret to defeating the Grizzlies? Eh, probably not. But the Lakers did win the series opener.

Game 2 takes LeBron James-Dillon Brooks beef up a notch

James drained a fadeaway jumper over Brooks in the second half of Game 2, then fired off some trash talk in his direction.

Brooks got the last laugh, though, sinking multiple 3-pointers in front of James on the way to victory.

Brooks had a lot to say during his postgame media availability, calling James "old" and saying that he doesn't respect players "until they come and give me 40 [points]."

"He's not at the same level that he was when he was on Cleveland winning championships, Miami," Brooks said (via ESPN's Tim MacMahon). "I wish I got to see that. It would have been a harder task, but I'm playing with what I've got.

"Just wear and tear on him throughout a seven-game series and see if he can take it. See if he wants to play the one-on-one battle or if he wants to be out on the sidelines shooting the basketball."

LeBron James dismisses questions about Dillon Brooks

James faced multiple questions about Brooks a day before Game 3, but he wouldn't take the bait.

"Tomorrow's gonna be a great game," James said. "I'm not here for the bulls—. I'm ready to play, and that's it."

LeBron James talks to Dillon Brooks before Game 3

James had a brief discussion with Brooks as players were warming up ahead of Game 3. When asked about the pregame exchange, James didn't reveal what he said to Brooks, but he clearly knew that all eyes were on him.

"It wasn't private because everybody caught it. Everybody saw it," James said. "There's nothing private about it. It's very, very public. I like it that way."

Brooks said that James simply "told me his birthday."

Dillon Brooks ejected from Game 3 after Flagrant 2 foul on LeBron James

Mark down the foul and ejection squares on your beef bingo card!

Early in the second half of Game 3, Brooks earned a Flagrant 2 foul after striking James below the belt on a steal attempt.

Brooks declined an interview request after the Grizzlies' 111-101 loss, but he later claimed that the media and fans "making me a villain" played a role in his ejection.

James once again took the high road.

"[There] was a lot of time, a lot of game to be played when that incident happened," James said. "So, [I was] just trying to get up, protect my crown jewels and move on to the next play."

LeBron James scores clutch bucket over Dillon Brooks

In a crucial Game 4 in Los Angeles, James converted a layup in the final seconds of regulation to send the contest to overtime.

Then, in the extra period, he drove past Brooks and finished through contact, sealing a win and helping the Lakers capture a 3-1 series lead.

James finished with 22 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists. Brooks posted 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Brooks declined to speak to reporters for the second consecutive game.

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.