Although neither Pacific Division team is viewed as a serious championship contender in 2025-26, there’s been no love lost in the rivalry between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
The addition of Dillon Brooks to The Valley brought with him an edge and a culture shift that’s earning Phoenix respect around the league, including from Lakers star Luka Doncic.
While Brooks has carried on an ongoing feud with NBA all-time leading scorer and Luka’s teammate LeBron James, his propensity to talk trash on the court while backing it up with his play (even earning All-Star buzz as a result) is getting attention from a different Laker.