NBA Won’t Suspend Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks for Hitting LeBron James in Groin, per Report

He was ejected from Game 3 but reportedly won’t miss Game 4 in Los Angeles.

After reviewing Dillon Brooks’s flagrant 2 foul from Game 3 of the Grizzlies-Lakers series, the Memphis forward will not be suspended for Game 4 of the first-round playoff series, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Brooks was ejected Saturday night for hitting LeBron James in the groin during his team’s 111–101 loss. 

During the third quarter of the game, Brooks was defending James as he tried to dribble past midcourt and hit the Los Angeles star down low. Brooks was ejected and refused to speak to reporters after the loss. The incident comes days after he called James “old” and took several shots at him after Memphis’s Game 2 win. 

Dillon Brooks was ejected after receiving a flagrant 2 for this hit to LeBron. pic.twitter.com/LL9CLRAryy

— ESPN (@espn) April 23, 2023

This is the second time this season Brooks has been punished for hitting a player in the groin. On Feb. 2, Brooks fell to the ground while playing against the Cavaliers and hit Donovan Mitchell in the groin, prompting Mitchell to retaliate. Mitchell ultimately was fined $20,000 while Brooks was dealt a one-game suspension. 

Donovan Mitchell and Dillon Brooks tussle in Cleveland 👊

🎥 @BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/z5le7GOYt2

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 3, 2023

Nevertheless, the NBA decided that Brooks’s latest low blow did not warrant a suspension. He’ll be in the lineup Monday night for Game 4 at 10 p.m. ET.