The rivalry between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks witnessed another heated chapter last night, overshadowing the Los Angeles Lakers’ narrow 116-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

While the game went on, LegendZ on X appears to have transcribed the audio, and after James nailed a clutch fourth-quarter three, he yelled at Brooks:

“You a b—-!”

This exchange was the newest chapter between perhaps the league’s greatest player and a defensive pest who’s been trying to get under his skin for years.

Stretching back to Brooks’ time with the Memphis Grizzlies, the rivalry has been steady, with the forward bodying James on drives, playing him hard on defense, and openly challenging him verbally.

Brooks built a reputation for testing stars emotionally as much as physically, but so far, James hasn’t backed down, and their encounters often blur the line between competitive edge and personal animosity.

This game was a mess from the first minute. Early on, Brooks bumped James, drawing a technical foul, and soon after, the Lakers star returned the contact before being reviewed for a flagrant. No additional penalty was assessed, but he made his feelings clear, seemingly calling the review “soft” in frustration.

Things got even more intense in the third quarter…

Brooks threw the ball off James after drawing a foul, which the Lakers forward thought was intentional. He confronted the Suns star, telling him to “chill the f— out with that b——-.”

James also told officials that Brooks bounced the ball off his head, even grabbing hold of one of them before being assessed a technical foul.

How the game unraveled and why it felt familiar between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks

Things got even hotter in the fourth quarter. After picking up his fifth foul, Dillon Brooks accused LeBron James of flopping, with the latter staring him down instead of responding. Soon after, the Lakers veteran drilled a step-back three and delivered the line that defined the night. He finished the game with 26 points, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, but eight turnovers, a testament to Brooks’ defense.

The Suns briefly swung momentum when Brooks hit a huge three over James on the other end, and despite running over him with a shoulder check, James didn’t draw a foul.

The forward was heated at the no-call and immediately went after James again, demanding a whistle.

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Unfortunately for the Suns star, though, the officials ruled in the Chosen One’s favor, and Brooks was ejected following this exchange, ending his night.

Brooks scored 18 points on efficient shooting and played excellent defense on James, but the Suns fell just short due to his ejection.

The Lakers managed to close out the game with a two-point lead at the buzzer, but complaints about the officiating continued. The pool report after the game made matters even worse.

However, the lasting image wasn’t the final score, but the heated confrontation between the two forwards, and while James ended up on top this time, only time will tell how their next meeting will pan out. They face each other next, just two nights before Christmas.