The Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James has been in the league long enough to know how to handle erring people like Houston Rockets player Dillon Brooks.
The LeBron James-Dillon Brooks issue is well-documented, with the 27-year-old Canadian known for trying to get in the head of the 38-year-old NBA star.
But rather than engage in Brooks' antics, LeBron James offered a mind-boggling response to the Canadian player.
LeBron James credited Dillon Brooks’ competitive nature at shootaround in Houston and said he earned the contract he got from the Rockets coming off the Grizzlies-Lakers playoff series. pic.twitter.com/BHrDGdBybz
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 8, 2023
Read more: Dillon Brooks Fires New Shot Towards Lakers' LeBron James
Rather than go off, James praised Brooks for getting a new lease with the Rockets. The four-time NBA champion pointed out how former second-round pick of the 2017 NBA Draft worked on his game since coming out of Oregon when he spoke to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
"Every player that is awarded a contract is awarded for a reason," James said. "They're worthy of the contract they get. In his case, he was worthy of the contract he got. He's put in the work since he's came out of Oregon. And that's how Houston found value in him... He's one of those guys who loves to compete, along with a lot of other guys in our league," the four-time NBA MVP said about Brooks.
It was during the 2022-23 Western Conference first-round playoffs when the Dillon Brooks vs. LeBron James feud started, SI.com reported.
Brooks called James "old" after winning Game 2 of that first-round series, motivating James instead. In that series, the Lakers eliminated the Grizzlies 4-2.
Different season, different Dillon Brooks
Since being let go by the Grizzlies, Brooks has proven that he is more than the villain most perceive him to be.
He stood out for Team Canada in the FIBA Asia Cup, ending up being hailed as the Defensive Player of the Year of the 2023 FIBA World Cup per FIBA.com.
Brooks has been putting up improved numbers in the six games he has played with the Rockets.
He is averaging 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in six games thus far. Aside from that, he continues to play good defense, pulling out all the stops to whoever he is assigned to guard.
The Rockets are underdogs against the Lakers, and Brooks will have to do his share to try and upset LeBron James and Los Angeles.
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