LeBron James is entering a new chapter of his legendary career with the Philadelphia 76ers after agreeing to a two-year deal with the franchise.
However, while James may have changed teams, his famous rival, Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks, appears to continue their long-running feud and is already looking forward to spoiling James’ next birthday.
Dillon Brooks Sends Blunt Message to LeBron James Ahead of 42nd Birthday Showdown
The Suns and 76ers are set to square off on December 30, 2026. The date carries extra significance as it falls on James’ 42nd birthday. For Brooks, the matchup provides another perfect opportunity to reignite his long-standing and well-documented feud with the four-time Champion.
Recently, during a media session, Brooks was asked about the Suns facing the 76ers on the four-time NBA champion’s birthday.
Rather than treating the occasion as something special for the league’s all-time leading scorer, Brooks viewed it as additional motivation to come away with a victory.
“I’m excited,” Brooks said. “That’s more ammunition for me to win that game, but it should be fun.”
“I’m excited. That’s more ammunition for me to win that game, but it should be fun.”
Dillon Brooks on playing against LeBron James on his birthday (December 30th)😅👀
(via @HaydenCilley) pic.twitter.com/ZhvWDKs4tc
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 14, 2026
Brooks is preparing for his second season with the Suns in the Western Conference. However, with James now moving to the Eastern Conference to join the 76ers, Brooks will no longer have the opportunity to face the veteran superstar as frequently as he did when both players were competing in the West.
As a result, a reporter followed up by asking Brooks whether he was disappointed that he would not get to see James as often.
“Not at all, but I’ll build up for the games that we play,” Brooks replied.
Brooks has shared several memorable and sometimes heated moments with James throughout the years, particularly during James’ tenure with the Lakers.
Their rivalry heated up during the 2023 Western Conference First Round series between Brooks’ Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers.
After Memphis’ Game 2 victory, Brooks famously took a shot at James by labeling the veteran superstar “old.”
Even after Brooks left Memphis and joined the Houston Rockets, the physical nature and competitive edge between the two remained intact.
The rivalry was visible courtside during the 2026 postseason. After the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs, Brooks appeared to enjoy James and the Lakers’ playoff against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Cameras caught the 30-year-old smiling on the sidelines as James and Los Angeles struggled against the Thunder.
More recently, Brooks once again made his feelings toward James clear during a livestream. When streamer N3on asked him to name the most overrated player in the league, Brooks did not hesitate before putting the former Lakers’ superstar’s name forward.
Now, with James beginning a new chapter in Philadelphia, it appears Brooks is already preparing to make their next meeting just as entertaining as the ones that came before it.
