LeBron James says Dillon Brooks’ recent comments about his age and playing level wasn’t a source of motivation in his strong Game 3 performance.
“I’ve been doing this too long. I’ve made enough statements,” James told reporters after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-101 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “No. We had an opportunity to come home and play well on our home floor, and we did that. No statement was made. We just wanted to play well and got a win. And we want to try to do that in Game 4, as well.
“But I don’t need to make statements.”
James came out firing with eight points, five boards, and one assist as part of a dominating 35-9 first quarter from the Lakers. He sustained that play the rest of the way, finishing with 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in 36 minutes of action.
Brooks was James’ primary defender until he was ejected moments after the second half began for striking the four-time Finals MVP in the groin.
It was an anticlimatic ending to Brooks’ efforts to get under James’ skin ahead of Saturday’s showdown. Still, the Lakers superstar reiterated that the Grizzlies forward couldn’t be further from his mind.
“At the end of the day, I think my resume and what I’ve done for this league speaks for itself,” James said. “I don’t really get caught up in any comments like that. Like I continue to say, at the end of the day, my focus is to my teammates and us trying to figure out a way how we can beat the Memphis Grizzlies, not how I can try to beat an individual on their team.
“If anybody knows me, they should know that’s what I’ve always been about. That’s all that matters.”
Los Angeles holds a 2-1 series lead over Memphis heading into Monday’s contest at Crypto.com Arena.
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