Dillon Brooks discloses LeBron's reaction to his trash-talk: "He prefers those who show deference. I refuse to bow down"

Dillon Brooks and LeBron James have once again fueled their ongoing rivalry, as Brooks scored 33 points to power the Phoenix Suns to a commanding 125-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The forward dominated the game, constantly provoking anyone in Lakers jerseys.

From mimicking James' signature shoulder shrug to high-fiving Luka Doncic after a free throw, Brooks stole the spotlight, especially after Suns All-Star Devin Booker left the court due to a groin injury.

Dillon Brooks doing the LeBron shoulder shrug. Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 2, 2025

After the game, Brooks made it clear that despite James legendary status, he would not back down and would continue challenging him whenever possible. Drafted 45th overall in 2017, the former Oregon standout has built a reputation as a relentless competitor, unafraid to confront even the leagues biggest stars, including James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.

On Monday, Brooks relentless trash talk visibly affected James, who at one point spent a possession arguing with Suns players on the bench rather than focusing on the game.

Lebron is a real , he obviously only cares about keeping that 10 point streak going. You would NEVER catch Kobe and Jordan laughing with the other team after getting blown out by 20. TheTruth (@Thetruth8240) December 2, 2025

"Im a competitor. I dont really like the smiling and giggling, so I was letting him know Im here and still rising," Brooks said. Beyond being an irritating presence on the court, he has become a dependable scoring option for the Suns, averaging a career-high 21.5 points per game this season.

The focus, however, remained on his verbal battles with the NBAs all-time leading scorer. "He always likes people that know to bow down. I dont bow down," Brooks commented about getting under LeBrons skin. "It either motivates him or irritates him either way."

While Brooks triumphed over James in this matchup, LeBron has had the advantage in the past. Notably, during their first-round clash in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers won in six games. Brooks struggled in that series, averaging only 10.5 points with 31.5% shooting, whereas James responded to the trash talk with 22.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.

That playoff disappointment is widely seen as a key reason Brooks was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets that offseason. Reflecting on his career growth, Brooks said, "I had a playoff series here where I struggled. That was a moment I decided to take my game seriously, improve, and be in places where Im valued and can excel. This is only the beginning."

Now 29, Brooks is thriving not just as a defensive pest but as a well-rounded contributor on offense, exceeding expectations with over 20 points per game this season.

Author: Sophia Brooks