Dillon Brooks Says He 'Loves' Facing LeBron James, Lakers Playoff Game Meme 'Was Not Scripted'

One of the NBA's most notable recent rivalries is the one between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks.

But Brooks said he doesn't consider it a rivalry at this point.

"I love playing against him," Brooks said (5:30 mark). "Honestly, it's not even a rivalry; it's like a competitive spirit because I've watched him my whole life."

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Brooks added that the meme of him sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game wasn't "scripted."

Brooks and the Phoenix Suns didn't face James in the playoffs this year, but that didn't stop him from getting a courtside seat to the Lakers' loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

That was just the latest wrinkle in the back-and-forth between Brooks and James.

The origin of the beef dates back to Brooks' time on the Memphis Grizzlies when he matched up against James and the Lakers in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.

Brooks took his first shot at James after a chippy Game 2.

"I don't care—he's old. You know what I mean?" Brooks said after Memphis won Game 2. "I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that [in] Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40."

That quote, plus some of Brooks' antics on the court, sparked a years-long rivalry that hasn't seemed to slow down. Earlier this offseason, Brooks called himself James' "top" hater and told him to "stop all this waiting s--t" as James mulled his free agency decision.

With James getting closer and closer to retirement, it remains to be seen whether Brooks will lighten up when he goes up against the all-time great.