The Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game win streak came to a screeching halt Monday night, falling 125-108 at home to the Phoenix Suns. But it wasn’t just the final score that had fans buzzing - it was Dillon Brooks, once again stepping into the spotlight as the NBA’s most unapologetic agitator, and doing it in LeBron James’ house.
Brooks, never one to shy away from the villain role, put on a show at Crypto.com Arena. He dropped 33 points and made sure everyone knew about it - mimicking LeBron’s signature shoulder-shrug celebration not once, but multiple times, and jawing throughout the game. It was classic Brooks: brash, bold, and completely unbothered by the moment.
And to his credit, he backed it up.
While Brooks was lighting it up, LeBron had one of his quietest nights in recent memory - just 10 points, for the second straight game. That contrast wasn’t lost on anyone watching.
Brooks, feeding off the energy of the crowd and the challenge of facing a legend, looked like the player rising. LeBron, meanwhile, looked - well, human.
After the game, Brooks didn’t dial anything back. When asked about the back-and-forth with LeBron, he leaned right into it.
“I’m a competitor, man. I don’t really like the smiling and the giggling and all that, so just letting them know that I’m here.
And I’m still rising,” Brooks said. “He [LeBron] likes people that bow down.
I don’t bow down. So, that either entices him or it aggravates him - either-or.”
That’s vintage Brooks - poking the bear and daring it to wake up. And on this night, the bear didn’t bite.
LeBron’s been easing back into the lineup after missing several weeks with a sciatic nerve issue. Through five games this season, he’s averaging 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists - numbers that, for anyone else, would be solid.
But for LeBron? That’s a noticeable dip from his usual All-NBA standard.
At 41 years old later this month and in his 23rd season, LeBron is navigating uncharted waters. No one’s played this long, this well, for this many years. But even the great ones eventually slow down, and right now, it’s fair to wonder if we’re finally seeing the first real signs of Father Time catching up.
Still, it’s not all doom and gloom in Lakerland. Even with LeBron missing time, the team has surged to a 15-5 start, thanks in large part to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves stepping up in big ways. And until this loss to the Suns, the Lakers were undefeated in games LeBron had played - 4-0 with him in the lineup.
So while Monday night may have belonged to Dillon Brooks - and he’ll be the first to remind you of that - LeBron and the Lakers aren’t going anywhere. The next chance to bounce back comes against the Toronto Raptors, a team LeBron has historically tormented. If there’s ever a game to get back on track, that might be the one.
But for now, Brooks gets the last word. And in his favorite road arena, he didn’t just talk - he delivered.