On May 22, 2021, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. While the Lakers ultimately came out on top with a 108-94 win, the game was not without its controversial moments. In particular, a flagrant-2 foul committed by Grizzlies player Dillon Brooks on Lakers superstar LeBron James caused quite a stir.
The incident occurred in the second quarter, with the Lakers up 38-33. James was driving to the basket when Brooks appeared to hit him in the face with his left arm. The referees initially called a common foul, but after a review, upgraded it to a flagrant-2 foul, which carries an automatic ejection. Brooks was sent to the locker room and the Lakers were awarded two free throws and possession of the ball.
After the game, James addressed the foul in his postgame press conference. He acknowledged that Brooks had apologized to him after the game and said that he didn't think the foul was intentional. "I know Dillon, I don't think it was a dirty play," James said. "It's just in the heat of the moment, things like that can happen. But the referees reviewed it and they deemed it a flagrant-2, so it's out of my hands."
James also praised his teammates for their performance in the game, with Anthony Davis leading the way with 28 points and 12 rebounds. "We just tried to come out and play Laker basketball," James said. "We were more aggressive tonight, we were able to get into the paint and get some easy buckets. And our defense was really good, especially in the second half."
While the foul may not have been intentional, it was a reminder of the physical nature of playoff basketball. With the Lakers looking to defend their NBA championship and the Grizzlies fighting to stay alive in the playoffs, both teams will be looking to play with intensity and aggressiveness in the remaining games of the series.
Overall, LeBron James' reaction to Dillon Brooks' flagrant-2 foul was measured and focused on the team's performance as a whole. While the foul was a controversial moment in the game, James and the Lakers were able to stay focused and come away with a crucial win.
