LeBron James doesn't care about Dillon Brooks' trash talk: 'I'm not here for the (expletive)'
LeBron James made clear Friday that he does not care to get in a war of words with the Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks, concluding his media availability by saying he's "not here for the (expletive)."
Brooks, 27, took a shot at the 38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star in the aftermath of Memphis' Game 2 win on Wednesday night, calling the NBA's all-time leading scorer "old."
Brooks and James exchanged words on a few occasions during the Grizzlies' 103-93 win, and afterwards Brooks was asked why he wasn't afraid to get in the face of a player of James' stature.
"I don’t care, he’s old," Brooks said, before, adding: “I poke bears. I don’t respect no one until they come and give me 40 (points). I pride myself on what I do on defense and taking any challenge on the board.”
James scored a game-high 28 points in Game 2, though the Lakers missed a big opportunity to go up 2-0 over the Grizzlies, who were missing Ja Morant.
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James, who has played more playoff games than any player in NBA history, was asked Friday if he's ever been part of a playoff series where trash talk has impacted the outcome.
"The game is won in between the four lines. Always has, always will be," James said.
James reinforced that his focus is on the basketball when he abruptly finished his media availability by saying, "I don't want to talk much more. Tomorrow's going to be a great game. I'm not here for the (expletive). I'm ready to play, and that's it."
Game 3 tips off in Los Angeles on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET.
Contributing: Jeff Zillgitt