With the Los Angeles Lakers in Houston for Wednesday’s showdown against the Rockets, the apparent rivalry between Dillon Brooks and all-time NBA great LeBron James has come back into focus.
When Brooks was made available to media members after Tuesday’s practice, he downplayed the personal elements and focused primarily on team goals. Houston (3-3) enters with three straight wins, and the Rockets are one victory from being above .500 for the first time since very early in the 2020-21 season.
On Wednesday, James spoke at the Lakers’ game-day shootaround from Toyota Center. Generally speaking, he spoke quite positively of the four-year contract Brooks landed this offseason, which will pay him more than $80 million. Here’s what James had to say:
Every player that is awarded with a contract is awarded for a reason. They’re worthy of the contract they get. In his case, he was worthy of the contract he got. He’s put in the work since he came out of Oregon, and that’s what Houston found value in him … and he’s here.
LeBron James credited Dillon Brooks’ competitive nature at shootaround in Houston and said he earned the contract he got from the Rockets coming off the Grizzlies-Lakers playoff series. pic.twitter.com/BHrDGdBybz
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 8, 2023
Later in the shootaround interview, James said he isn’t thinking much about all the past history and baggage between the two.
“Not too much,” he said. “I think just the competition alone. It’s always great to go out and compete … [and] he’s one of those guys who loves to compete. I don’t dwell on the past too much.”
Tipoff between the Lakers and Rockets is at 7 p.m. Central.
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