Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has broken his silence on the dramatic incident that led to his ejection in a recent nail-biting loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The confrontation, which reignited his well-documented rivalry with LeBron James, became a major talking point, and Brooks has now offered a mix of accountability and defiance in his first public comments.
The Incident That Sparked the Ejection
The flashpoint occurred during a thrilling comeback by the Suns, who erased a 20-point deficit to briefly take the lead. Brooks hit a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and contact followed on the shot. Officials made no call, a decision later backed by the NBA's official Last Two-Minute Report. An incensed Brooks immediately confronted LeBron James during the ensuing timeout, an exchange that earned him his second technical foul and an automatic ejection from the game.
Speaking to reporters at the team's practice facility, Brooks admitted he lost control. "I got out of character a little bit," he said. "Out of my body a little bit." He framed the moment as part of a recurring career challenge: staying on the floor to impact the game. "That's my problem through my whole career, is I let those things happen, and then I'm off the floor," Brooks explained, highlighting how his absence affects the team's dynamics.
Brooks Refuses to Back Down from LeBron James Feud
While accepting blame for the ejection, Brooks showed no signs of ending his personal rivalry with the Lakers superstar. He took a direct shot at James's media habits, labeling him a "social media junkie" who is constantly online monitoring commentary. "He be all over the socials, so he be seeing I guess what I'm saying," Brooks added.
He further addressed the nature of their on-court battles, stating his refusal to conform to any unwritten rules about how to approach James. "He thinks that people should think a way about him or not say nothing about him or play a certain way, and I'm not going to play that way," Brooks declared. "He gets in his moods or in his modes or whatever it is. I'm all for that."
Coach's Support and Brooks's Impact in Phoenix
Suns coach Jordan Ott publicly supported his player's fiery temperament, acknowledging it's a double-edged sword. "Love the energy. Love the emotion. He sets our pulse. We wouldn't want to have it any other way," Ott stated, underscoring the value Brooks brings to the team's identity.
The incident overshadows what has been a strong individual start to Brooks's tenure with the Suns. He is currently averaging a career-high 21.6 points per game, proving to be a significant offensive contributor for Phoenix alongside his notorious defensive intensity.
The exchange ensures that the next matchup between these two Western Conference players will be under an even more intense microscope, as one of the NBA's most personal rivalries continues to simmer.
