The Los Angeles Lakers may have handily bested the higher-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in six games during last season’s quarterfinals, but it appears Grind City’s on-court representatives are still living rent-free in the mind of some of their first-round foes.
During an August 10 appearance on the Full Send Podcast, LA’s sharpshooting wing Austin Reaves was asked about the kind of trash talk that takes place throughout the course of an NBA game.
When questioned who, in specific, he’s encountered that has “talked sh*t” to him, the newly minted $53 million man called out not just one, but all members of the Grizzlies.
"“All of Memphis, honestly. Their whole team talks sh*t,” Reaves said. “It felt good beating them in the playoffs.”"
Asked to elaborate on examples of words exchanged between him and the Grizzlies throughout his career, Reaves acknowledged that he doesn’t fully remember any specific instances, though made it a point to note that whatever had been said in the past was “nothing crazy.”
Classic Dillon Brooks on his confrontation with LeBron James: “I don’t care. He’s old. … I poke bears. I don’t respect someone until he gives me 40.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 20, 2023
And Brooks had plenty more to say. pic.twitter.com/uWLONrubPZ
When it comes to acts of jawing between these two franchises, the most noteworthy example of late came during this last postseason run when former wing Dillon Brooks infamously made his joy of “poking bears” public, calling Lakers superstar LeBron James “old” following Memphis’ Game 2 victory.
In the eyes of star big Jaren Jackson Jr., such a decision ultimately helped Los Angeles claim the energy they needed to push ahead in their best-of-seven series, as they would go on to close out the remaining four games with a 3-1 record while the elder statesman in James posted sensational averages of 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.0 blocks on 47.1 percent shooting from then on out.
Though Grizzlies fans were likely already excited to see a rematch between these two teams during the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, following Reaves’ joyous remarks regarding the Lakers sending Memphis home early last season, anticipation may have now reached even higher levels.
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