The rivalry between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks has never needed much spark, but their latest matchup turned into one of the most intense moments of the season. And the leaked audio from the Lakers vs. Suns game revealed how intense their battle was.
Their battle almost immediately began, as less than a minute into the game, Brooks shoved LeBron after a free throw was made. And that got him an early technical foul.
Brooks’ intent was clear from the get-go, and LeBron took note of it. Just a few possessions later, LeBron responded with physical play of his own, picking up an offensive foul that officials briefly reviewed for a possible flagrant. As the review dragged on, LeBron’s frustration boiled over.
LeBron was caught on audio, he could be heard saying:
“That’s soft. That’s so f***ing soft, bro.”
And from there, things got heated even further.
In the third quarter, Brooks drove into the lane and earned himself a foul, but LeBron blocked his shot. As the ball was in the air, he smacked the ball toward The King, which hit his head. And that was the breaking point.
LeBron charged straight at Brooks:
“Don’t throw the f***ing ball at me! Chill the f**k out with that bulls**t.”
As referees tried to separate them, LeBron continued venting, shouting:
“He smacked the ball off my f***ing head.”
In the chaos, LeBron grabbed a referee while making his case, a moment that sparked debate online about whether he should have been ejected. Officials ultimately issued LeBron a technical foul.
Crew chief Tyler Ford later explained that the incident was reviewed and deemed not to involve an unsportsmanlike act toward the official, which is why LeBron avoided further punishment.
Brooks didn’t back down. Early in the third, he picked up his fifth foul on an offensive call against LeBron and was furious.
Cameras caught him yelling:
“You’re flopping… flopping a** n***a.”
The tension followed both players on every possession. After LeBron drilled a big three later in the game, he turned toward the Suns bench and barked at Brooks, calling him:
“A b***h.”
The battle reached its peak in the final seconds. The Suns wiped out a 20-point deficit in the 4th quarter. And Brooks hit a clutch three, giving them a point lead. But he could not keep his emotions in check, as he chest-bumped LeBron, as he thought he was fouled on the shot.
The referees clearly disagreed, and upon further review, they gave Brooks a second technical foul, and he was ejected, with 12.2 seconds left.
What LeBron James Really Said To Dillon Brooks👀:
“Don’t throw the f*cking ball at me! Chill the f*ck out with that bullsh*t”
Then, after Brooks committed his 5th foul, he went at LeBron:
“You’re flopping… flopping a** n****”
Earlier, LeBron said Brooks was “f*cking soft.” pic.twitter.com/EWTGMfCfDB
— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) December 16, 2025
LeBron missed the first free throw that could have tied the game, but quickly flipped the script. Moments later, he was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly knocked down two of three from the line to give the Lakers a 116-114 win.
LeBron finished with 26 points, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Brooks exited with 18 points in a night defined less by numbers and more by raw emotion. After the game, LeBron downplayed the feud, calling it ‘just competing’ and saying, ‘no boys allowed.’
But the leaked audio told the real story. This wasn’t just competition. This was personal, physical, and very real. And when LeBron James and Dillon Brooks share the floor, it always seems to end this way.
