Dillon Brooks has become one of the NBA’s best-known agitators throughout his seven-year career.
Brooks was in top form during the Rockets’ 135-119 victory over the Lakers, getting Jarred Vanderbilt ejected and adding another chapter to the feud between him and LeBron James with a flagrant foul against the 39-year-old forward.
That Brooks and James got involved was no surprise. The duo have a long-standing feud and have exchanged barbs off the court many times over the past calendar year. Now, they’re at it again on the court as the Lakers and Rockets compete for a spot in the NBA’s Western Conference.
Here’s what you need to know about Brooks’ fight with Vanderbilt and James from the Rockets-Lakers game on Monday night.
Jarred Vanderbilt expelled after fight with Dillon Brooks
Brooks managed to get into Vanderbilt’s heads for the first time in the early stages of the second quarter. The Rockets winger gave the Lakers forward a little push under the basket after Austin Reaves scored for Los Angeles.
Vanderbilt countered with a push of its own, and that led to a technical foul from the officiating crew.
After briefly chatting with the officers, Vanderbilt pursued Brooks again. This time, the Lakers forward attempted to hit Brooks in the back of the head, causing Vanderbilt to quickly pick up a second technical foul and be ejected from the game.
Jarred Vanderbilt was ejected after fighting with Dillon Brooks. pic.twitter.com/1yq3qvAnMp
— Specter SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 30, 2024
Vanderbilt’s qualms with Brooks did not appear to be limited to their shoving match under the basket. Vanderbilt was also angry because Brooks had pushed him from behind while he was driving to the basket a few plays earlier.
Vanderbilt was sent flying into the upright but fortunately was unharmed. Brooks was called for a foul on the play, but neither Vanderbilt nor his teammates thought it was enough.
“He’s going to do an open dunk and [Brooks] he just pushed him in the back,” Anthony Davis explained about that play, according to ESPN. “It’s not a safe play. Guys get hurt like that. And you have to know what kind of player [Brooks] is. [The referees] let it continue like this and [Brooks] in a way it caused it. He speaks and says what he wants to the referees, to the players and in the end we are men.
“No man is going to talk to another man the way he talked to Vando. So, Vando did what he had to do.”
Vanderbilt’s actions led to his ejection after just seven minutes on the court. He finished the day with three points, all of which came on the play where Brooks fouled him, and a steal.
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Dillon Brooks commits a flagrant foul on LeBron James
Brooks wasn’t done after arguing with Vanderbilt. The first-year Rocket also continued his feud with James by committing a flagrant foul on the Lakers star midway through the fourth quarter.
Brooks’ hit on James came as the two were fighting for a rebound under Houston’s basket. Brooks came up behind the veteran forward and managed to get his hands on the ball. However, as he tried to get it out of James’ hands, he lowered his arm and punched the Lakers in the face.
James fell to the ground in pain as a result of the blow.
LeBron James fell after being hit in the head by Dillon Brooks ?
I hope it’s okay ? pic.twitter.com/Dscxax4mlf
– Clutch Points (@ClutchPoints) January 30, 2024
In the end, Brooks was penalized Flagrant 1, as his contact with James was deemed unnecessary but not excessive. This was probably because Brooks at least appeared to be making a play on the ball.
As a result, Brooks was able to continue playing to help the Rockets to victory.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham was not happy with that decision, especially considering Brooks’ antics with Vanderbilt early in the contest.
“Being competitive is one thing,” Ham said, according to ESPN. “But…putting players at risk of injury with certain plays. I just saw it again. [on video] before coming here, [Brooks] He pushes him from behind, a guy who is in the air. In the air, helpless. Then Bron’s play, Bron goes to the basket and does a double movement with his arms. An arm tries to deflect the ball and it goes back and then crosses. [James’] face.
“So maybe Dillon Brooks shouldn’t have been in the game either.”
Davis went a step further with his assessment.
“It’s false” davis said. “I mean, you commit a hard foul, that’s part of basketball, but you’re not going to blatantly shove someone in the back when he has no control of his body in the air. And he should have been ejected for that. And then you know he and Bron have their [collision] and from what I saw, it was just a blatant punch to LeBron in the face.
“The referees saw it differently. It is what it is.”
