The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Los Angeles was looking to take a 2-1 series lead and jumped out to a massive lead in front of a hungry home crowd.
One of the underlying storylines of this game was the battle between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks. Brooks did not shy away from doing his best Lance Stephenson impersonation to frustrate LeBron despite history showing that it would not go well for Brooks and the Grizzlies.
Brooks took it to a whole new level during the game on Wednesday with the most obvious groin shot perhaps in NBA history. LeBron went behind the back and Brooks tried getting away with a discrete smack to the region.
It did not go unnoticed and Brooks was ejected from the game. Lakers fans had a field day.
Lakers fans react to Dillon Brooks’ ejection after dirty groin shot on LeBron James
Brooks is already making himself one of the most hated players among Laker faithful and this did not do him any favors. Knowing that LeBron is ultimately okay, Lakers fans had a field day in making fun of Brooks and his dirty attempt at hurting LeBron.
DILLON BROOKS GETS EJECTED AFTER A DIRTY HIT TO LEBRON. GET THIS SCRUB OUT THE BUILDING! pic.twitter.com/uDkw9voluF
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) April 23, 2023
DILLON BROOKS EJECTED OH MY LORD CAN THIS NIGHT GET ANY BETTER😭😭 pic.twitter.com/BSfXyTEzTW
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐟 𝐃. (@SmokeyXO4) April 23, 2023
Some Lakers fans had a theory on why Brooks did what he did and it actually makes a lot of sense. Brooks said he doesn’t respect anyone until they drop 40 on him… so might as well get himself ejected from the game before LeBron could score 40. LeBron had 15 points in his first 20 minutes of game action.
Dillon Brooks mad smart. He said he ain't respecting anyone unless they drop 40 on him. Therefore, he gets himself ejected before they can do it. pic.twitter.com/NvU1GK2AJ7
— DemonL (@DemonL00) April 23, 2023
You know that a play is dirty when Skip Bayless, who has been one of the biggest LeBron James critics in sports media, sides with the King. Even Bayless thinks that the ejection was warranted, even though he still seemed to question if LeBron was acting on the play (he might have been, oh well).
Dillon Brooks just caught LeBron with a reach-in shot to the midsection. LeBron writhed on the floor. Brooks ejected. Impossible to know what Brooks' intent was. But it was a direct hit. Blood was bad. Get him outta there.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 23, 2023
It will be interesting to see how the league responds to this cheap shot by Brooks. Draymond Green was ejected and suspended a game for stomping Damontas Sabonis in the Kings-Warriors series.
This might not look as bad as a stomp but it feels even dirtier than that. It will be interesting to see if Brooks is even allowed to suit up in Game 4.