There is still no love lost between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks, and Sunday in Phoenix proved it again. The Los Angeles Lakers nearly squandered a 20-point fourth-quarter lead as the Phoenix Suns stormed back behind a blistering 35–14 run, capped by a Brooks three splashed right over James with 12 seconds left.

As Brooks backpedaled, he shoulder-bumped James to the floor and kept jawing, earning his second technical and an automatic ejection in the final seconds. The two had been talking throughout the night, with cameras catching James swatting the ball away in frustration after a whistle earlier in the game.

LeBron Finally Addresses Brooks

After the buzzer, James was asked directly about the latest flashpoint in a rivalry that dates back to Brooks’ trash-talk days in Memphis. Instead of escalating, he framed it as hard-edged basketball, saying they simply compete, get in each other’s faces, and that he does not “take it there” beyond the lines.

His comments marked a subtle shift from past episodes where Brooks’ words helped torpedo his own Grizzlies tenure during a chippy 2023 playoff series against the Lakers. On this night, James chose to emphasize competition rather than conflict, even after being knocked to the court in front of a hostile crowd.

Closing Time and the Bigger Picture

On the floor, James delivered a controlled but impactful line, finishing with 26 points on 8 of 17 shooting, 9 of 14 at the stripe, plus four assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

He even stepped to the line for the technical free throw despite Luka Doncic’s superior 81.1-percent foul-shooting mark this season, a choice that underlined his willingness to own the moment.

James then drew a foul from Devin Booker on a late three, hit two of three free throws to put Los Angeles up 115–114, and sealed the result by blocking Grayson Allen’s floater before Marcus Smart’s free throws iced it.

Brooks finished with an efficient 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting, but his ejection and James’ postgame tone suggested this duel has evolved into something more nuanced than simple bad blood — a test of composure as much as toughness.