National Basketball Association

Dillon Brooks on LeBron James confrontation: 'I don't care, he's old'

Updated Apr. 20, 2023 12:48 a.m. ET

Despite missing star point guard Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies held off multiple Los Angeles Lakers comeback attempts to win 103-93 on Wednesday and even their first round NBA Playoffs series at one game apiece.

One such Lakers run in the second half came after LeBron James and Dillon Brooks exchanged words in the third quarter, with Brooks clapping in James' face as the NBA all-time scoring leader continued to yell at him in front of the Los Angeles bench.

Brooks has repeatedly showed he is not afraid to call out James, the Lakers or any other opponent on or off the court, and continued that behavior after Wednesday's game.

"I don't care. He's old," Brooks said, referring to the 38-year-old James. "He wanted to say something after I got my fourth foul, he should have been saying that earlier on. I poke bears. I don't respect anyone until they come and give me 40."

Brooks later clarified his words, saying he respects James as a person and even called the 19-time All-Star a "legend," but believes none of that matters during a game.

"When I'm on that floor, you're just another player to me," Brooks said, via the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "I don't care who you are. You're just 6-8, 270 pounds and you're a basketball player."

And Brooks took things a step even further, saying he would have rather faced the version of James that played for the Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavaliers before the Grizzlies guard was in the NBA.

Game 3 of the series between the Lakers and the Grizzlies tips off at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday — and it will mark the first Lakers home playoff game in front of a full-capacity crowd in Los Angeles since 2013.

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