LOS ANGELES — Phoenix forward Dillon Brooks said his constant chatter unsettled LeBron James as the Suns handed the Los Angeles Lakers a 125-108 defeat on Dec. 1, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena.
James returned after a one-game absence but produced only 10 points, most of them in the fourth quarter when the outcome was settled. Head coach JJ Redick kept the 40-year-old on the floor long enough to preserve his NBA record for consecutive double-digit scoring games.
Brooks shot efficiently and matched his offense with physical defense, helping Phoenix pull away after an even opening stretch. “I’m a competitor,” Brooks said postgame. “I don’t like the smiling and giggling. I’m letting him know I’m here and I’m still rising.”
The forward added that James “always” reacts to the jawing. “He likes people that bow down. I don’t bow down, so that either entices him or it aggravates him—either or,” Brooks explained.
The two exchanged words several times; at one point Lakers teammates stepped between them to prevent the confrontation from escalating.
The loss snapped Los Angeles’ seven-game winning streak as it heads into a challenging road trip against multiple playoff-caliber opponents. Turnovers and extended scoring droughts resurfaced against a Phoenix lineup capable of defending the Lakers’ Big Three.
Redick confirmed before tip-off that James is following a ramp-up program designed to prepare him for playing back-to-back games later in the season. The veteran forward sat out the previous contest versus the New Orleans Pelicans under that plan.
Source: LakersNation.com
