Dillon Brooks was serious. Standing in the Grizzlies’ locker room on Wednesday, wearing large mirrored sunglasses covering his eyes and an oversized chain bearing his initials that fell across his bare chest, Brooks brushed off the question of whether it was disrespectful to verbally address LeBron James over and over again.
“I don’t care,” Brooks said after Memphis evened its first-round series against the LeBron and Lakers, 1–1. “I goose the Bears. I don’t respect anyone until they come and give me 40 [points]. “
It was a bold statement by Brooks, although for players to engage in a mental war with James is nothing new.
In 2008, the James Cavaliers were scheduled to face Washington for their third consecutive postseason. Weeks ago, wizard DeShawn Stevenson famously called James “overrated.” When asked about the comment, James likened it to Jay-Z in response to Soulja Boy. From there it escalated. Soulja Boy sat on the field at Game 3. Jay-Z later released a track… about Stevenson. James averaged 30 points in the series. The Cavs bounced back the Wizards in six games.
In 2014, Lance Stephenson escalated a well-established rivalry with James in the Eastern Conference Finals. In a physical match between the Pacers and the Heat, Stephenson tried all the tricks. bear james elbow. When James hit the ground, Stephenson pulled over and stood on top of him. While taking a break from the action, Stephenson put his fingers near James’ mouth. In Game 5, Stephenson broke the internet when he was caught on camera blowing into James’ ear.
The result was similar. James averaged 23 points. Miami won the series in six games. Years later, Stephenson said he regretted none of it.
“I was really trying to piss him off,” Stevenson said. The result After signing with the Lakers in 2018. “I’m really trying to win the game, I’m trying to get him out of focus. I’d try anything. For you to do something to someone and they don’t respond, they keep going and playing hard, and it’s like, ‘Yo, how do I get into this?'” [guy’s head]I was just trying to find things.”
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Perhaps the only player who got the best out of James was Jason Terry. In 2011, Terry was the sixth man in Dallas. Before the season, Terry tattooed the Larry O’Brien Cup – which is awarded to the NBA champion – for his biceps. In the Finals, the Mavericks faced the Heat. After Dallas fell behind 2-1, due in part to James’ physical defense, Terry said, “We’ll see if he can do it in seven games.” The Mavs went on to win the next three, with Terry burying a three-goal on James in the dying seconds of Game 5 that secured a Dallas win.
Two years later, with Terry playing in Boston, James sent him to the floor after a highlight reel. Then, James admitted that Terry’s dirty talk in 2011 made the immersion even more special.
Brooks is the latest provocateur to try to throw James off his game. Brooks said he respects James.
“He’s a legend,” Brooks said. But he vowed not to back down.
“You can’t look at this guy like he’s LeBron James,” Brooks said. “He’s just another basketball player. I’m up for the challenge every night.”
Against Memphis, James was solid. He averages 24.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and shoots 51.4% from the floor. On Saturday, Brooks will have another crack at James when the series moves to Los Angeles.
Either he wins the psychological battle – or he becomes the last opponent James fails to try.