Across more than two decades in the NBA, LeBron James has faced every kind of opponent imaginable.
But in recent years, no rivalry has felt quite as chaotic — or personal — as his ongoing feud with Dillon Brooks.
What started as competitive fire has turned into a recurring flashpoint whenever the two share the floor, with each new matchup adding another volatile chapter to one of basketball’s most unusual modern beefs.
🔥 Where the Feud Truly Began
The rivalry exploded into the mainstream during the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, when Brooks — then with the Memphis Grizzlies — decided to openly antagonize one of the greatest players in league history.
Brooks called LeBron “old,” claimed he liked to “poke bears,” and insisted he didn’t respect anyone unless they dropped 40 points on him.
The comments aged poorly — fast.
LeBron responded the only way he ever has: on the scoreboard.
James averaged 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, leading the Lakers to a six-game series win and sending Memphis home while Brooks generated more headlines than highlights.
👀 The Tension Didn’t Come Out of Nowhere
While the playoffs put the rivalry on full display, the roots trace back further.
In January 2021, LeBron hit clutch shots directly over Brooks and punctuated them with a now-famous “too small” taunt. At the time, it felt like routine trash talk — but in hindsight, it marked the moment Brooks began actively testing James.
That edge sharpened in January 2023, during a heated regular-season game at Crypto.com Arena. Brooks clashed with media personality Shannon Sharpe, then turned his focus toward LeBron afterward, criticizing his offensive tendencies and claiming he “forced him left.”
From that moment on, there was no ambiguity:
this was personal.
🧨 The 2023 Playoff Collision
Brooks didn’t shy away when the Lakers reached the postseason via the Play-In Tournament. Instead, he openly said he wanted a seven-game series against LeBron.
He got his wish — briefly.
From the opening tip, the series was charged. In Game 2, LeBron finally responded to Brooks’ nonstop chatter with a fadeaway jumper and a brief, icy exchange of words.
Brooks had moments — late threes, stares, bravado — but the rivalry took a darker turn in Game 3, when he was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul after striking James below the belt in transition.
Brooks later hinted that his “villain” reputation influenced the call. LeBron refused to engage publicly, brushing it off and saying he wasn’t there for the “bulls—,” only basketball.
🏀 The Moment That Defined It All
The image fans remember most came in Game 4.
With Brooks defending him, LeBron scored a game-tying basket in regulation — then delivered a crushing and-one in overtime, flexing and roaring as the Lakers seized a 3–1 series lead.
Brooks skipped media availability again, earning a $25,000 fine. When the series ended in six games, LeBron summed it up without naming names, posting on Instagram:
“If you ever see me fighting in the forest with a Grizzly bear, HELP THE BEAR.”
🔁 A Rivalry That Refused to Die
Even after Brooks signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Houston Rockets, the feud didn’t cool.
Ahead of his first matchup with LeBron the following season, Brooks declared he was ready to “lock him up.”
LeBron, consistent as ever, took the high road — publicly praising Brooks’ work ethic and acknowledging his journey, even as the tension on the court never disappeared.
⚠️ The Latest Flashpoint
That tension boiled over once again in Phoenix.
After drilling a clutch go-ahead three late in the fourth quarter, Brooks went chest-to-chest with LeBron, earning his second technical foul and an immediate ejection.
The swing was decisive.
LeBron calmly knocked down free throws, the Lakers regained control, and another Brooks outburst ended up benefiting James’ team — a familiar pattern in this rivalry.
🐐 Still Standing, Still Winning
Now approaching 41 years old, LeBron continues to deliver age-defying performances — including 26 points in the latest chapter — while absorbing constant physicality from a rival who seems unable to stay out of his own way.
Retirement may be on the horizon someday.
But for now, one thing remains clear:
As long as LeBron James and Dillon Brooks share the floor, chaos is guaranteed — and history suggests it usually ends in LeBron’s favor.
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