Canada's Dillon Brooks embraces villain role in Grizzlies' series vs. LeBron's Lakers

Calling the NBA's all-time leading scorer — regular season and playoffs — old and just another player might not seem very smart to most folks.

For Dillon Brooks, that's just the Grizzlies' defender trying to get under LeBron James' skin.

Brooks is one of the NBA's best defenders. He started off the mind games before their first-round Western Conference series was locked in, saying he wanted to face James and the Lakers.

And Brooks didn't hold back after his Grizzlies tied this series at 1-1 without Ja Morant. Brooks called James a legend yes, but "old" at 38. He added James isn't the player who won titles in Miami and Cleveland. Brooks, 27, is in the final year of his contract.

"I'm creating a name for myself," Brooks said Wednesday night after a 103-93 win over the Lakers.

Classic Dillon Brooks on his confrontation with LeBron James: “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”<br><br>And Brooks had plenty more to say. <a href="https://t.co/uWLONrubPZ">pic.twitter.com/uWLONrubPZ</a>

This is nothing new for Brooks, often called Dillon the Villain in Memphis. He embraces the heel role in a town where wrestling and trash talk is a way to make a good living. It might seem a bit different for someone born in Mississauga, Ont. — so much for the polite Canadian stereotype.

But the 6-foot-6 Brooks played high school ball in Nevada and was the 45th pick overall out of Oregon in 2017. He was acquired by Memphis from Houston in a draft-night trade.

And Brooks has taken on the NBA's best from Kevin Durant to Donovan Mitchell to Stephen Curry — backing down from no one.

That's why James, who spoke to reporters Wednesday night before Brooks called him a "legend" and "old," said before the