ESPN News Services November 7, 2023, 9:52 pm ET3 minute read
Dillon Brooks blows a kiss to the Kings bench after a three-pointer
Dillon Brooks blows a kiss to the Kings bench after firing a three-pointer.
Rockets forward Dillon Brooks – who caused a stir in last season’s playoffs when, as a member of the Grizzlies, he called LeBron James “old”, challenged the Lakers superstar to score 40 points and then sent him to the Groin hit – isn’t going to change his approach ahead of Wednesday’s rematch in Houston.
“Ready to lock him up,” Brooks said Tuesday, according to the Houston Chronicle. “He shoots the ball well. He played well. So I’m just there to tire him out and make sure he gets there early in the fourth quarter.”
Brooks’ “bear-stoking” didn’t help the Grizzlies’ cause much last April, as they were eliminated from the first-round series by the Lakers in six games, with James posting 22 points and 20 rebounds in Game 4, the first 20-20- line of his career.
The Grizzlies decided against attempting to re-sign Brooks in free agency this summer, in part because of his often hostile antics. He then agreed to a four-year, $80 million contract with the Rockets.
James has publicly dodged questions about Brooks’ comments, although his social media activity remained less veiled after Los Angeles’ narrow win.
“I feel like he (James) controls the media,” Brooks said Tuesday. “I feel like a lot of people have these podcasts and love social media, but I don’t really like it. I don’t really like media. If I didn’t have to talk to you, I would.” I’m not talking to you. And you know, I just block it out and just play basketball.”
Brooks, 27, averaged 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his first season with the Rockets (3-3), who are on a three-game winning streak. The 38-year-old James is averaging 25.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the 3-4 Lakers.
“Too full court him if he wants to bring it up,” Brooks said of his plan to protect James. “Every time he shows up on the block, I nudge him. I bump into him on the way back. If he protects me, I want to attack him. I just put him in multiple actions.”
However, for all the talk of resuming the rivalry, Brooks insists, “It’s not about me or him.”
“This is what the matchup says at the start of the game: LA Lakers vs. Houston Rockets,” he said. “It’s about us getting the win and continuing the winning streak.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.