Lakers star LeBron James said he’s “not here for the bulls—” and he doesn’t “want to talk much more” about Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks’ recent comments, James said Friday. Here’s what you need to know:
- James and Brooks exchanged words in the third quarter of Memphis’ Game 2 win following a pair of James scores.
- After the contest, Brooks called James “old” and added, “I poke bears — I don’t respect no one until they come and give me 40 (points).”
- James wasn’t asked about Brooks postgame but told reporters Friday he doesn’t have a response to the comments. About the trash talk, James said “The game is won between the four lines. Always has been. Always will be.”
- The Lakers and Grizzlies face off for Game 3 on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. The series is tied one game apiece.
LeBron at the end of his media availability: “I’m not here for the bullshit. I’m ready to play.”
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 21, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What else did James say?
Brooks poked the bear. But the bear didn’t respond — yet. James fielded multiple questions about Brooks’ postgame comments at Friday’s practice, refraining from creating a public back-and-forth. When asked if he had a response, James simply said, “No.” Eventually, James, who is always measured, lost his patience, concluding his availability by cutting off a question and said, “I don’t want to talk much more. Tomorrow is going to be a great game. I’m not here for the bulls—. I’m ready to play and that’s it. All right? Appreciate it.”
Brooks’ comments about his defense on James aren’t based in reality. According to NBA.com, James has scored 26 of his 49 points against Brooks, shooting a sizzling 61.1 percent against him. Brooks has been more of a gnat than an agitator. Coach Darvin Ham said he doesn’t expect James to approach Game 3 any differently offensively.
“LeBron needs to come out and do what he’s always done,” Ham said. “Just play the right way. Everything else will take care of itself.” — Buha
What Grizzlies said in response
“I think our job is hard anyway going up against LeBron,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Friday. “Obviously our guys know what DB brings (with) his competitiveness, he’s definitely gonna talk — he’s just gotta be able to back it up. When I say our guys talk, our team has done this for a couple years now for sure. I say now the onus is on us to go in and back it up.”
“It’s not the first time, not gonna be the last time,” Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones said Friday. “That is a big bear. But I mean, that’s what you gotta love about DB. He’s up for every challenge. I think the part that most people didn’t see was him giving credit to LeBron, saying obviously it’s LeBron James, everyone knows who he is knows he’s a legend and things like that, but at the same time, when we step on the court, you got to play basketball. Just looking at him as a basketball player.”
What’re the betting odds on James scoring 40 in Game 3?
James hasn’t scored more than 40 points since scoring 41 in a 125-121 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in late January. He scored 46 against the Clippers in a high-scoring affair earlier that same week.
So far, James is averaging 24.5 points per game in the playoffs. In April, he averaged 28 points per game. He averaged 33.8 points per game in February before injuring a tendon in his right foot that required him to miss most of March.
The Lakers are favored by 4.5 points Saturday with the over/under set at 220 points.
James’ point total for Saturday’s Game 3 is set at 28.5 points at BetMGM. For those who don’t know how betting totals work, a $125 bet on James “under 28.5” will win the bettor $100 if James scores 28 or fewer points. If James scores 29 or more points, a bettor who wagers $110 on the over will win $100.
BetMGM also has a prop on whether James will score more than 40 points. If he does, that prop pays out at 6-1 or +600, so someone who bets $100 would win $600. — DeWitt
Backstory
Brooks has been the Grizzlies’ primary defender on James and has sought to body up the 6-8, 260-plus James. Brooks said, “It’s going well. I’m trying to, with not fouling, with little bumps here and there, get him tired.”
“He’s a special player. … These special players, they want to play in space, they want to not be touched … but when you get to the playoffs and bumps are allowed and stuff like that, it wears on him.”
In arguably his most popular moment of trash talk, Brooks said James isn’t as good as he was earlier in his career.
“He’s not at the same level as he was when he was in Cleveland and winning championships in Miami. I wish I got to see that. I mean, it would have been a harder, harder task (to guard him).”
James scored 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting, but was just 1-of-8 from 3-point range. He scored 21 on 8-of-16 shooting in the Lakers’ Game 1 win.
What other Lakers said
Rui Hachimura on Dillon Brooks’ comments: “That’s all they can do. They’re a young team. They want to talk. We don’t care.”
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 21, 2023
Required reading
- Dillon Brooks calls LeBron James ‘old’ after Grizzlies’ Game 2 win over Lakers: ‘I poke bears’
- Will LeBron James score 40 on Saturday night after Dillon Brooks’ ‘old’ comment? Vegas, experts don’t think so
(Photo: Justin Ford / Getty Images)
