The 2022–23 NBA playoffs has seen its share of memorable moments, among them Lakers superstar LeBron James’s “beef” with Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks throughout their second-round series.
Brooks’s back-and-forth with James turned into the stuff of playoff lore as many believed it fueled the future Hall of Famer’s domination of Memphis to lead L.A. to a 4–1 series win. The 27-year-old garnered plenty of attention for his antics from his team, fans and pundits, outside noise teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. believes may have ultimately cost Memphis in the long run.
During a recent podcast appearance, the Grizzlies star told Clippers star Paul George he thinks James found extra energy in the trash talk, and it helped him propel the Lakers to victory. But, while Jackson admitted the antics may have led to Memphis’s downfall, the All-Star forward stood firmly by Brooks on one thing: the fact that the 38-year-old James is, indeed, old.
