Dillon Brooks refuses to bow to LeBron James in emphatic statement

Dillon Brooks is always on a mission to make life miserable for his opponents. He even ups the boredom factor every time he goes up against the best players in the game. It is no coincidence that Brooks always appears in matches against the star of the Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James. And on Monday night, Brooks had the last laugh as he led the way Phoenix Suns scoring 33 points in a 125-108 loss to the Lakers on the road.

Brooks played bully ball all night, taking advantage of the switch against the Lakers’ smaller guards and scoring with ease. He was also able to set the tone for the Suns defensively, making one after another and troubling James, who he barely extended his 10-point streak.

After the game, Brooks continued to talk, saying that he was not just bow down To James simply because he’s one of the greatest players of all time—even arguably the greatest to ever play the sport.

“I’m a competitor. I’m not really into smiling and giggling and all that. I just let him know I’m here and I’m still getting up,” Brooks said of his interaction with James throughout the night, per AZ Central’s Duane Rankin . “He likes people who bow. I don’t bow. It either tempts him or makes him hard, or.”

“I’m a competitor. I’m not really into smiling and giggling and all that. Just letting him know I’m here and I’m still growing.”

Dillon Brooks on his interaction with LeBron James in the Suns’ 125-108 win over the Lakers.

“He likes people who bow down. I don’t bow down. That… pic.twitter.com/7saE1Kg8kt

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 2, 2025

Brooks will always be defiant, which makes him a key piece for any team willing to embrace being the underdog. This makes him the perfect leadership figure for this Suns team that many didn’t expect to be able to play this well after a major shakeup in the offseason.

He will never yield, and he is steadfastly alone. And Brooks didn’t care if anyone liked him or not.

Dillon Brooks, the Suns will have to play with the same kind of energy every night

This Suns team certainly nailed it, embarrassing a star-studded Lakers team despite losing Devin Booker to injury earlier in the game.

But with Booker suffered a groin injuryit looks like he will miss time for the first time this season. Brooks will need to continue to reinforce that the Suns are holding down the fort amid the potential absence of their best player.