“I’m going to give you a professional perspective and then I’m going to give you my perspective,” Anthony said on his “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony” podcast episode that posted May 20 on YouTube.
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Anthony and James are close friends, going back to high school, as they were in the famed 2003 NBA Draft class that also included Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
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“The professional perspective is, this isn’t about ‘Bron. This is my Canadian teammates. My fellow countrymen. I’m coming to see my guy. It just so happens he’s playing against an (expletive) I don’t like.”
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward (3) Dillon Brooks reacts after being called for a foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks off the floor after their 131-122 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder closing out the playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) plays for the rebound against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, on April 10, 2026.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (left) watches the action against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center on Feb. 26, 2026, in Phoenix.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) slam-dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 22, 2025, in Phoenix.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Jan. 7, 2026, in Memphis.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns assistant coach DeMarre Carroll (left) and forward Dillon Brooks (3) prepare for the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Oct. 27, 2025.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center in Miami, on Jan. 13, 2026.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) battle for a loose ball in the first half at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, on Oct. 24, 2025.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Brooklyn Nets’ Zeng Fanbo, Phoenix Suns’ Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker react at Venetian Arena in Macau, China, on Oct. 10, 2025.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Nov. 29, 2025.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks (3) looks to pass the ball back inbounds against New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half at Smoothie King Center on Dec 27, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) pose for portrait during Media Day at PHX Arena on Sept. 24, 2025.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) complains to an official during a game against the Pistons at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2026.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns teammates Devin Booker, left, and Dillon Brooks chat on the sidelines during their game against the Miami Heat at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 25, 2026.
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Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a three-point shot against the New York Knicks during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 9, 2026 in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Knicks 112-107.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a now two-time NBA MVP, and Brooks are both from Canada, as is Thunder guard Lu Dort, who starred at Arizona State.
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“Now my perspective is, get the (expletive) out of here because we got beef,” Anthony continued. “It’s more than just on the court. If you’re showing up to the workplace and you’re trying to put this show on, then you’re disrespecting me now. It’s not about basketball anymore. So I have to say something to you, and I’m swept.”
The Thunder won Game 4 in sweeping the Lakers to advance to the conference finals.
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“I have to approach you because you’re playing with me,” Anthony added. “You’re playing on my name. You’re playing me. Like you’re trolling to a whole other level. I get why you I’m here and my teammate and Canada, but that’s not really why. You here for your teammate, but you there for an (expletive) you don’t like. You want smoke. You want me to say something to you. So I got to say something to you.”
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Brooks has been working out this summer in Phoenix, which is an hour flight to Los Angeles.
James and Brooks have a history that took on greater meaning in the 2023 NBA Playoffs when Brooks uttered the “I poke bears” comment while playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Brooks addressed their history earlier this season after the two got into it again during an early December Suns’ game in Los Angeles, saying he was, ”Just letting him know I’m here and I’m still rising.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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