Dillon Brooks is looking forward to the next chapter of his NBA career with the Houston Rockets. The small forward, who signed a massive four-year, $86 million contract with the Rockets as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, believes he’ll impact winning in Houston.
“You know, it was like the same type of thing with Memphis,” Brooks told Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “A nice young core. I feel like I can make an impact there. And just give my veteran-ness and my defensive love for the game, bring that sense of professionalism and try to change it around.”
Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season for the Grizzlies while shooting 39.6% from the field, 32.6% from beyond the arc and 77.9% from the free-throw line. Memphis won 51 games in the regular season and was the second seed in the Western Conference.
However, the Grizzlies lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2023 playoffs in six games and Brooks didn’t play well. The 27-year-old averaged just 10.5 points while shooting 31.2% from the floor and 23.8% from 3 against the Lakers.
Brooks also talked too much trash to LeBron James, calling the four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP “old” after the Grizzlies won Game 2 in Memphis. Memphis told Brooks it would not bring him back during exit meetings and the franchise stuck to its word.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies & Houston Rockets Updates
Brooks knows people are counting him out after the Lakers series, which is why he’s excited for next season.
“I try to find motivation every single day, every single game, however I can get it,” Brooks said. “You always want to play with that fire, especially as a defender, because if you take a day or a play off, guys capitalize on that. And that’s one thing that we’ll probably try to do in Houston — hold people accountable and the details of everything.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies & Houston Rockets Updates
The Rockets entered free agency with the most cap space. They signed Brooks, Fred VanVleet, Jeff Green, Jock Landale and Aaron Holiday.
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