Lakers superstar LeBron James has been in this position before. In the playoffs, with his team fighting to gain control in the series against a worthy opponent, he knows better than to say or do anything that might become a distraction.
While Grizzlies swingman Dillon Brooks has gone above and beyond trying to antagonize the King, James has been dodging any confrontation with him. Still, speaking on NBA Countdown, Stephen A. Smith challenged James to give Brooks everything he’s got in Game 3.
“I don’t care how he verbally responds,” said Stephen A. “I care how he responds come game time. All of us are basketball lovers and we know what this game entails and who knows it better than LeBron? Winning is the priority, and team togetherness is the priority, but there is nothing wrong with squeezing in a few moments where you bust somebody’s living you-know-what to remind them just who the hell you are. This is one of those moments that calls for it.”
.@stephenasmith wants to see LeBron go after Dillon Brooks on the court 👀
"There is nothing wrong with squeezing in a few moments where you bust somebody's living you-know-what." pic.twitter.com/1epqeOnFDV
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 21, 2023
Stephen A. wants to see an ultra-aggressive LeBron on Saturday, but it’s unlikely the King will change his playstyle at all. Rather than give in to Brooks and try to outshine him with individual greatness, LeBron is sure to take a team-first approach that prioritizes winning instead.
LeBron Is Fully Locked-In As Lakers Prepare To Defend Home Court
With the series tied at 1-1, any team can win it and LeBron wants to make sure that it’s his Lakers that are the ones to move on. In what will be the team’s first home playoff game in a while, Crypto.com is sure to be rocking and James knows what to expect heading in.
“I’m looking forward to it,” James said. “I don’t know the exact date when the last playoff game was in that building. Obviously, we have a playoff game this year and two years ago but this is an actual playoff game so I know they [the fans] are looking forward to it and so are we.”
Dillon Brooks is going to keep talking no matter what happens, but LeBron can make him look foolish if he leads the Lakers to victory again. If not, it will only give Brooks and the Grizzlies more fuel to talk trash.
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