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JJ Redick has had an explosive argument with Jarred Vanderbilt. But the Los Angeles Lakers head coach is in awe of Vanderbilt’s energy. Redick labels him as a winning player. In Vanderbilt’s case, scoring has never been a part of his game. The defensive-minded forward plays with energy, being a star in his role. Those sacrifices drive winning.

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But Dillon Brooks doesn’t understand how Vanderbilt asks more from himself. While on RayAsianBoy’s stream, the Phoenix Suns forward named the Lakers star as the NBA player he finds “dumb”.

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“I’m about to throw a shot I can’t even lie, but this guy doesn’t really like me, who cares. Jarred Vanderbilt on the Lakers. Called Vando… He’s like a rebounder, can’t shoot, defense,” Brooks said during his appearance on the stream.

The former Houston Rockets forward has shared some tense moments with Jarred Vanderbilt on the court. When with the Rockets last season, he and Vando got into a scuffle during a regular-season game. The former Timberwolves player shoved Brooks in the chest. Their back-and-forth escalated. The referees tossed Vanderbilt, while Brooks received a tech.

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His recent take wasn’t motivated by their past. Dillon Brooks just feels Jarred Vanderbilt has limited himself, despite having the gifts to be a dynamic basketball player. “I just think he has way more potential that he’s not untapping. “He’s like 6’9″, bro, and he’s mobile, but he has no (offense). I got to guard (Ray) tougher than I had to guard him,” the former Grizzlies forward added.

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Vanderbilt has never had the platform to develop his scoring gifts. His career-high 8.3 points with the Utah Jazz highlight what teams want from Vando when on the floor. He’s best used as a point-of-attack defender who uses his high motor to be effective as a rebounder. Brooks’ dig wasn’t because he hates Vanderbilt.

He also didn’t do it just because Vando plays with LeBron James.

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Dillon Brooks clarifies his feelings for LeBron James

With the Suns not being in the playoffs, Dillon Brooks has been documenting his offseason with RayAsianBoy. They’ve linked up over the past few days. One of the first things the popular streamer wanted to know was how Brooks really feels about James. The old tweets he’s made show that there was once a fan. But then the regular taunting makes it seem like James took something from Brooks.

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At the very least, it’s all just the Canadian forward’s competitive juices not letting him be friends with an opponent.

“No, I really went to go see what OKC was gonna be on,” Brooks said when asked whether he hates LeBron James. “So, I’m watching the series and it’s kind of like our series. Where they’re in the game first and second quarter. And then, they blow it open”.

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There wasn’t any praise or reminiscing about the times Dillon Brooks could admire LeBron James’ career. Brooks has faced off against the Akron Hammer wearing three different uniforms. Not once has he stepped away from their intense on-court exchanges. It doesn’t look like he’s going to stop until James retires.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,682 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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