Brooks eyeing 1st rematch against LeBron: 'I'm ready to lock him up'

Houston Rockets wing Dillon Brooks is looking forward to guarding Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James on Wednesday. The matchup comes a few months removed from the pair's postseason matchup when Brooks was a member of the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I'm ready to lock him up," Brooks said, according to SB Nation's Lachard Binkley. "He's been shooting the ball well, he's been playing well, so I'm just there to make him tired, make him get into that fourth quarter early."

Brooks made headlines during the playoffs with multiple comments and actions directed toward James. The then-Grizzlies wing called his 38-year-old opponent "old" after a Game 2 victory over the Lakers. The two had a conversation before Game 3, and Brooks was later ejected for hitting James in the groin while swiping for the ball. Los Angeles ended up winning the second-round series over Memphis, though the latter was the higher-seeded team.

The 27-year-old stood by his comments after the season, calling himself "a competitor."

Memphis did not retain Brooks, clearing the way for him to sign with the Rockets on a reported four-year, $80-million deal. The Canadian is enjoying a strong start to the season, averaging 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He's also shooting career-highs from the field (59.3%), 3-point range (56.5%), and the charity stripe (93.8%).