NBA playoffs 2023 - Timeline of Dillon Brooks poking at LeBron James

Is Dillon Brooks just asking to get cooked in Game 3?

After Game 2, when the Memphis Grizzlies evened their NBA playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 103-93 win, Brooks, who said LeBron James called him «dumb» for picking up his fourth foul, then Brooks called James old and said, «I poke bears.»

«I don't care — he's old. You know what I mean?» Brooks said of the 38-year-old James. «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.»

LeBron had 28 points in Game 2.

This, however, wasn't an isolated incident between James and Brooks, who has an ongoing beef with the Golden State Warriors and Draymond Green.

This has been a tête-à-tête that goes back a couple years.

In a January 2021 game, James, who had 26 points, hit a fadeaway jumper over Brooks in a 94-92 win, then did the «too small» celebration in Brooks' direction. LeBron's celebration might have been getting back at Brooks for a similar move earlier that night.

LeBron doesn't forget