A brief history of the wild feud between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks

LeBron James he had a number of tough opponents during the NBA’s longest career. However, in recent years, no one has received more attention than the LeBron James and Dillon Brooks feudwhich has grown into one of the NBA’s most unusual modern rivalries.

What started as a few competitive moments evolved into a recurring flashpoint whenever LeBron James and Dillon Brooks share the floorwith the 2023 NBA Playoffs serving as the flashpoint, each subsequent matchup adding fuel to the fire.

When did the rivalry start?

The most defining chapter of LeBron James and Dillon Brooks’ feud took place during the first round of the 2023 playoffs, when Brooks, then with the Memphis Grizzlies, made the decision to publicly oppose one of the most successful players in NBA history. Known for his abrasive edge, Brooks dismissed James as “old”, declared he “stings bears” and insisted he disrespected no one until they scored 40 pointsaccording to The Sporting News.

The comments quickly backfired. James responded not with words, but with production, averaging 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Los Angeles Lakers eliminated Memphis in six games, ending Brooks’ postseason with more titles than wins.
While the playoff series brought the rivalry into the spotlight, the tension between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks had earlier roots. In January 2021, James delivered what many believe was the first spark, hitting Brooks in the clutch and thwarting them with an “undersized” taunt.

At the time, it seemed like a routine in-game exchange, but in retrospect, it marked the beginning of Brooks’ fixation with challenging James both verbally and physically.

The feud further escalated in January 2023 during a heated regular season game at Cripto.com Arena, when Brooks clashed with television personality Shannon Sharpe before turning his attention to James after the game. Brooks has publicly criticized James’ offensive tendencies, claiming he forced him to leave and denied him easy looks. Any remaining ambiguity about whether the rivalry was personal disappeared at that point, setting the stage for a postseason clash.

When did the rivalry develop?

That crash came sooner than expected. As the Lakers entered the 2023 playoffs via the Play-In Tournament, Brooks openly stated that he wanted a seven-game series against James, framing it as an opportunity to knock him out right away.

The wish came true when Los Angeles defeated Minnesota and drew Memphis in the first round. From the opening tip, the series was emotionally charged, culminating in Game 2, when James finally responded to Brooks’ provocations with a jumper and a short dose of his own trash talk.

Brooks briefly enjoyed a moment of defiance in that game, hitting late threes and staring James down, but the rivalry soon took a darker turn. In Game 3, Brooks was ejected early in the second half for a Flagrant 2 foul after he hit James below the belt as he brought the ball down court.

Brooks later suggested that his growing reputation as a villain affected the officiating, while James refused to engage publicly, saying he was “not here for the bulls—” and focused solely on the game.

The decisive picture of the series came in the fourth game. With Brooks guarding him, James scored the game-tying basket and then went on a layup and one in overtime, howling and cowering as the Lakers took a 3–1 series lead.

Brooks again declined media availability after the loss, which led to a $25,000 fine by the NBA for violating interview rules. When the streak ended in six games, James summed up the rivalry indirectly on Instagram, posting a photo of himself cowering with the caption: “If you ever see me fighting in the woods with a grizzly, HELP THE BEAR.

The rivalry hasn’t faded with the offseason. After Brooks signed a four-year, $80 million deal with the Houston Rockets, he reignited the feud ahead of his first matchup with James in 2023-24. declaring that he was ready to “lock it up”, according to TSN.

James again chose restraint, publicly praising Brooks for earning the contract and acknowledging his work ethic since college, though their encounters on the court remained tense.

The last incident

That tension played out dramatically in the ensuing bout in Phoenix, where Brooks’ competitive fire once again crossed the line. After hitting a clutch 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, Brooks went toe-to-toe with James, earning his second technical foul and ejection.

The moment gave the game back to the Lakers, when James made key free throws and sealed the victory with a final defensive save. It was another example of how Brooks’ intensity, while effective at times, changed games in James’ favor more than once.

James, approaching his 41st birthday, delivered another age-defying performance in that contest, finishing with 26 points while absorbing constant contact. Needless to say, the two players can be expected to continue this highly entertaining feud for the time being, despite James possibly already considering retirement.