Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks Not Suspended For Hitting Lakers’ LeBron James In Groin In Game 3, According To Report

Dillon Brooks will receive no further punishment from the league for his actions during the Memphis Grizzlies 111-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first round. according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Brooks declined to speak to the media on Saturday after the game.

Just 17 seconds into the second half of Game 3, Brooks was ejected for hitting LeBron James in the groin. James writhing on the ground in obvious pain and the officials went to replay the game to determine if further action was needed. They quickly called Brooks for a flagrant 2 foul, which put him out of the game.

Here’s a look at the play:

This is just the last incident this postseason where a player is hit in the area. James Harden was ejected from Game 3 of the series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets for hitting Royce O’Neale in the groin late in the third quarter of the Philadelphia win. Earlier in the match, Joel Embiid was fouled for kicking Nic Claxton in the groin, but was not ejected. This isn’t even the first time James has been hit on that field in the playoffs. In 2016, Draymond Green was infamously suspended for Game 5 of the NBA Finals after being ruled a flagrant foul for hitting James in the groin in Game 4.

Green’s recent suspension for Game 3 between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings may have been instructive here as well. The NBA noted in its suspension that part of the decision to suspend Green rested on his history of committing similar offenses in the past. Brooks has a similar history. He was ejected for Game 2 of last season’s series between the Grizzlies and Warriors for a foul hit on Gary Payton II and was subsequently suspended for Game 3 of that series. This season he was suspended for one game in March for his 16th technical foul. He was ejected from a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this year for hitting Donovan Mitchell in the groin.

Brooks and James have had a heated run in the press. Brooks said before the postseason started that he wanted to face James in the first round so he could “knock him out right away.” After Game 2, Brooks defended his nonsense about James by saying “I don’t care, he’s old.”