Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks is never afraid to speak his mind, even when it means challenging one of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court.
Brooks, born in Mississauga, Ont., has been given the gargantuan task of guarding LeBron Games in the Grizzlies' opening-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In Wednesday's night game — a 103-93 win for the Grizzlies — the Canadian guard exchanged words with James after the Lakers superstar made a layup early in the third quarter.
After the game, Brooks had plenty more to say about the interaction between the two and essentially issued a challenge to James.
"I don't care — he's old. You know what I mean?" Brooks said post-game. "I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should have been saying that earlier on. But I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40."
Brooks, who has developed a reputation as one of the league's most prolific antagonists and an elite wing defender, loves to use his antics to try and disrupt other team's star players.
Even if that star player became the NBA's all-time leading scorer earlier this season.
Brooks did admit that James was "a legend" of the game, but was also quick to point out that the five-time NBA champion is not what he once was.
"He's not at the same level that he was when he was on Cleveland winning championships, Miami," Brooks said of the 38-year-old James who is in his 20th NBA season. "I wish I got to see that. It would have been a harder task, but I'm playing with what I've got. Just wear and tear on him throughout a seven-game series and see if he can take it. See if he wants to play the one-on-one battle or if he wants to be out on the sidelines shooting the basketball."
James did still finish the contest with game-high 28 points on 12-of-23 shooting. However, Brooks and the Grizzlies, who were without star guard Ja Morant due to a hand injury he suffered in Game 1, came out with the win to even the series at one game apiece.
The two teams will now enjoy two days of rest before squaring off in Los Angeles for a pivotal Game 3 on Saturday night.
That's when we will get to see just how James responds to Brooks' challenge, and if he still has enough in the tank to "give [him] 40."
