LeBron James plays on with Los Angeles Lakers as Memphis shows Dillon Brooks the door

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Apr 19, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) react during the second half during game two of the 2023 NBA playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Akron native LeBron James seemingly got in the last word on Dillon Brooks when the Los Angeles Lakers ushered the Memphis Grizzlies of out the playoffs last week.

Brooks, who referred to James as “old” or “tired” at various points during the playoffs, found himself in the NBA’s version of the unemployment line Tuesday after the Grizzlies informed him during his season-ending exit interview that he would not be returning to the team after six seasons.

Ouch.

The Grizzlies are the only team Brooks has ever played for and it would seem that his back-and-forth with James along with his unprofessional behavior and not being available for postgame interviews (which cost him $25,000) did him in.

The writing may have been on the wall Sunday when Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman declined to address Brooks’ future with the team.

More: What Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman said about Dillon Brooks’ future, team offseason plans

“I think there were certainly self-created distractions we were navigating in this series,” he said. “As we’re looking forward and thinking about what comes next, those are all things that we’re going to keep in mind from a competitive standpoint.”

Looking forward apparently began Tuesday and the distraction? Umm…poking the bear?

James’ performance in the series was pivotal and despite being in the league 20 years, he remains one of its best players.

In other words: you still don’t tug on Superman’s cape.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Did focus on LeBron James trash talk cost Memphis’ Dillon Brooks?

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-plays-los-angeles-182916083.html?src=rss

Author : Akron Beacon Journal

Publish date : 2023-05-02 19:39:38

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