LeBron and Brooks Face Off Again: “I Didn’t Want to Cross the Line”

When it comes to LeBron James and Dillon Brooks, no special context is needed – just put them on the same court and the temperature rises. It happened again in the matchup between the Lakers and the Suns, a 116-114 win for Los Angeles that didn’t come without controversy (including Devin Booker’s complaint about a foul on LeBron). For long stretches, the game followed its tactical script before turning into yet another chapter of what has clearly become a personal rivalry.

The flashpoint came early in the third quarter. Brooks attacked the rim, drew a foul and, in the motion that followed, pushed the ball in LeBron’s direction. A small detail, perhaps.

Not for James, who reacted immediately, stepping face to face with his longtime antagonist. Brooks backed away, while LeBron continued to argue forcefully with the officials, eventually making contact that earned him a technical foul.

He competes, I compete. It’s normal to go face to face. I tried not to cross the line… and I managed to do that pretty much until the end of the game.

LeBron James

In the end, it was nothing new. The two know each other well, and recent history shows that James has almost always had the final say when it comes to actual basketball. Brooks, for his part, continues to embrace the role he’s carved out for himself: the agitator who never backs down, regardless of the name on the opposing jersey. He had reiterated that point just a few weeks ago, when his 33-point performance led Phoenix to a win over Los Angeles.

This time, however, the incident seemed to have a different effect. The Lakers responded, ramped up the intensity, and built a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. LeBron led without forcing the issue, while Brooks faded into the background. It was yet another reminder that there’s no love lost between the two – and that when the game is on the line, James still chooses the simplest response of all: impacting the result.