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A halftime incident between members of the Memphis Grizzlies and Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe occurred during a 122-121 Los Angeles Lakers victory Friday night.
While the Lakers came from behind for the win, the shouting match that took place between Sharpe and the Grizzlies was the focus of the postgame conversation.
LeBron James, #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers, drives past Dillon Brooks, #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies, during a 122-121 Lakers win at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
"I ride with Shannon for 365 days, 366 on a leap year, 24/7," LeBron James said after the game. "So, that's my guy. So I'll always have his back, and he's got mine. He can talk with the best of them, for sure."
Sharpe has been a longtime supporter of James as a commentator for Fox Sports.
The incident occurred seconds after the buzzer sounded at the end of the second quarter.
Dillon Brooks of the Grizzlies was seen shouting at Sharpe – who was sitting court side – as he walked toward the bench.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: Shannon Sharpe reacts after he is restrained by security from Ja Morant, #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies, after a verbal altercation after the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
As Sharpe shouted back, gesturing for Brooks to come over to him, several Grizzlies players approached Sharpe near his seat.
Steven Adams and Ja Morant walked toward Sharpe as security got in between.
"They didn't want this smoke, Dave [McMenamin]," Sharpe told ESPN. "They do all that talking and jockeying, and I ain't about that jockeying. It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to guard LeBron. He said, 'F--- me'. I said, 'F--- you' back. He started to come at me, and I said, 'You don't want these problems.' And then Ja came out of nowhere talking. He definitely didn't want these problems. Then the dad came, and he obviously didn't want no problems.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 20: Steven Adams, #4 of the Memphis Grizzlies, is restrained by team trainers and assistant coaches as he has words with Shannon Sharpe following a verbal altercation with Ja Morant, #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies, and his father, Tee Morant, during the halftime against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
"But I wanted anything they had. Don't let these fools fool you now."
Sharpe was allowed to return to his seat for the second half.
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After the game, Brooks was asked whether he thought it was appropriate for a fan to engage with players in the way Sharpe did.
LeBron James, #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers, drives to the basket on Dillon Brooks, #24 of the Memphis Grizzlies, during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on January 20, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
"A regular pedestrian like him? No," Brooks told reporters. "He should never have come back in the game. But it’s LA."
Memphis took an 89-81 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Lakers outscored the Grizzlies 41-32 in the fourth quarter, allowing the Lakers to move to 21-25 on the season.