Dillon Brooks delivered a standout performance on Tuesday night, leading the Phoenix Suns to a 125-108 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The forward notched 33 points, displaying his scoring touch and penchant for rising tensions on the court. Equally important to this win, Brooks’ all-around performance was essential to his team’s victory. He fully restarted his and LeBron James’ ever-growing feud just as the pandemic hit.
Brooks dominated the first half, scoring 23 of his 33 points. He had a memorable second quarter explosion, scoring 15 points in a rapid-fire flurry. His contributions helped the Suns establish a formidable 14-point lead by halftime, setting the tone for the rest of the game. He capped it all off with an efficient shooting performance, making 15 of 26 shots from the floor.
Brooks brought along his trademark trash-talking to the Juilliard School match. This mischievous verbal pyrotechnic has become a signature of his on-field performance artistry. His shenanigans were well documented, from cartoonish memed over the top celebrations after scoring just to further annoy the opposing fanbase and more importantly LeBron James. In one memorable moment, Brooks stared down James following a transition dunk in the second quarter, further intensifying the competitive atmosphere.
The intensity of the rivalry between Brooks and James saw another spike when the two exchanged words in a heated confrontation late in the game. As James lingered near the Suns’ bench during a timeout, he barked at Brooks, who seemed unfazed by the confrontation. Brooks later reflected on his mindset during these exchanges, stating, “I don’t bow down. So that either entices him or it aggravates him — either or.”
Collin Gillespie, a teammate of Brooks, commented on his intensity during games, saying, “Sometimes, I’m trying to tell him to chill out, but I think he just blacks out.” This goes to show the competitive mentality that Brooks plays with every game, especially against marquee names like the Lakers.
With every passing quarter, Brooks stayed hot and put on a show, holding off a comeback attempt and leading the Suns to an upset win. His career-best average of 22.3 points per game this season further underscores his development as a key player in the league. After the game, he remarked on his shooting performance: “They wanted me to keep shooting, so I kept shooting,” highlighting his confidence and willingness to take on a scoring role.
Since the first round of the 2023 playoffs, Brooks has often been viewed as a public enemy at Crypto.com Arena, where fans have not forgotten his infamous declaration: “I poke bears.” This notable reputation only serves to increase the drama surrounding his matchups with teams such as the Lakers.
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