Former NBA champion Stephen Jackson doesn’t mind some competitive trash talk in the playoffs.

Jackson was happy to see Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks chirping back at Lakers superstar LeBron James in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series on Wednesday.

“Where were y’all when ‘Bron was shooting airballs from free throw line. I’m happy somebody wanna compete and not be friends,” Jackson commented on Instagram under a post from former NFL star LeSean McCoy, as reported by NBA Central.

“I love guys that wanna compete. Too many players let Bron score. They wanna be friends.”

McCoy is a host on Fox Sports’ “Speak.”

James and Brooks were seen chirping back and forth after the Lakers veteran drained a jumpshot in Brooks’ face with about eight minutes left in the third quarter.

Brooks also stared down James after he made a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter that helped seal the Grizzlies’ win to tie the series at 1-1 — however, James wouldn’t return the favor and appeared unfazed.

After the game, Brooks called the NBA’s all-time leading scorer “old,” and told reporters that the confrontation started when James made a comment about him getting whistled for a fourth foul.  

“He said, ‘You’re dumb for getting that foul,’” Brooks said.

“I play with my heart. Then I got to find a way not to get fouls on reads or transition, or when he’s driving. You don’t use those [type of] fouls for LeBron and AD [Anthony Davis] and the guys I’m guarding, especially when you know the referees are going to call the ticky-tack stuff.”

Brooks added that his style of play includes “poking bears,” and that he was waiting to go head-to-head with James.

“I don’t care he’s old,” Brooks said. “I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that Game 4, Game 5.

“He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should’ve been saying that earlier on. I poke bears. I don’t respect no one ’til they come and give me 40.”

Brooks finished with 12 points, three assists and a rebound in the win without Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant due a wrist injury he sustained in Game 1.

As for James?

The four-time NBA champion said he’s excited to bring playoff basketball to the Lakers home court.

“On Saturday, it’s back to the four lines and what happens between the four lines,” James said ahead of Game 3 with the series tied at 1-1.

” I am so excited to have the opportunity to play another playoff game. I believe this is our first game in our house, in front of the fans, in the postseason. First time. I’m excited about that.”

James led the Lakers with 28 points and 12 rebounds — which marked his 103rd career playoff game with 20 points and 10 rebounds, according to ESPN.

Game 3 is set for Saturday at 10 pm. ET in Los Angeles.

Elsewhere, Jackson, who turned 45 on April, celebrated his birthday Thursday night with a star-studded dinner at Delilah in Las Vegas, according to videos on his Instagram Story.

Those in attendance included Raiders owner Mark Davis and James’ good friend and former teammate, two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith.