The Rivalry Between Dillon Brooks and LeBron James

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks recently took to a livestream with content creator Neon, where he made some pointed remarks about Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. When asked to name the most overrated player in the NBA today, Brooks hesitated before ultimately naming James.

“I’ll probably say LeBron right now,” Brooks said. “I feel like he’s overrated right now. I feel like his time is coming to an end. He gotta pass that on to one of our World guys. Like a Luka [Doncic] or Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander].”

This isn’t the first time Brooks has targeted James, but the tension between the two has escalated this season. Their rivalry, which had somewhat cooled in recent years, has reignited with renewed intensity. On December 14, during a game between the Lakers and Suns, James was visibly upset after Brooks swatted the ball from him. Brooks, however, ended up getting the last laugh when he gave the Suns the lead with just 12.2 seconds left. Unfortunately for the Suns, they lost the game 116-114 after Brooks was ejected for a technical foul.

Brooks didn’t hold back after the game, launching several verbal attacks against James. He called him a “social media junkie” and claimed that James would have airballed the game-winner. This wasn’t the first time Brooks had taken shots at James; during the 2023 playoffs, when Brooks was still with the Memphis Grizzlies, he made similar comments that backfired. The Lakers won the series in six games, leaving Brooks looking embarrassed.

Despite this history, Brooks doesn’t seem to fear James anymore. He admitted that if it were James at his peak during his time with the Miami Heat, he wouldn’t be talking trash. That admission shows that Brooks recognizes James’ greatness, even if he doesn’t think much of the player he is today.

On the same stream, Brooks expressed respect for James, calling him “one of the legends.” He even included James on his NBA Mount Rushmore, indicating that while he may not agree with James’ current status, he respects his legacy.

Evaluating the Claim That James Is Overrated

Brooks’ claim that James is overrated seems a bit off. The 21-time All-Star is no longer considered a top-10 player in the NBA today. In the 2025-26 season, James is averaging 21.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. Many analysts and fans believe he shouldn’t be an All-Star this year, and NBA analyst Zach Lowe has even stated that there are 12 American players who are better than him now. It’s clear that James is no longer overrated.

Dillon Brooks and the Podcasting Controversy

Brooks hasn’t limited his criticism to James. He also took shots at Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the livestream, specifically targeting Green’s podcasting habits.

“I be getting on dudes that want to do the podcast when they’re playing,” Brooks said. “They’re all terrible.”

When asked if he disliked Green’s podcast, Brooks confirmed that he does. “He talk too much,” Brooks said. “They’re not good because it’s so focused on [podcasts].”

Green is expected to respond to these comments on his show, The Draymond Green Show. With the Suns set to face the Warriors on February 5, it’s likely that the two will clash again on the court.

The Suns also have two more games against the Lakers this season, and with the ongoing tension between Brooks and James, those matchups are sure to be must-watch television.