Forward Dillon Brooks is, to borrow a pro wrestling term, one of the NBA’s foremost heels, and he seems to love to play the role of villain while talking trash to opposing players and teams.
He has gotten into several incidents over the past two seasons, and it may have been a factor in the Memphis Grizzlies deciding to move on from him when he was a free agent this summer.
Brooks is now a member of the Houston Rockets after agreeing to a four-year contract worth $86 million with them. He is one of several veteran players they have brought in as they attempt to speed up their rebuilding process and put at least a somewhat competitive team on the floor this season.
He says he is looking forward to taking on his old team four times this year, and he said he will have a “big chip” on his shoulder.
“Big chip [on my shoulder],” Brooks said. “That’s one of the games that’s circled on my list — and we get them four times, so that’s amazing.”
Brooks has averaged 14.5 points a game in his six-year NBA career, but he cannot shoot straight, as he has career rates of 41.6 percent overall and 34.2 percent from 3-point range. However, he is a very good defender named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team last season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies & Houston Rockets Updates
The big concern with him, especially given how young and green the Rockets are, is his apparent immaturity. During the 2022 playoffs, he was ejected and suspended after committing a flagrant 2 foul on the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II. Payton fractured his left elbow as a result, but he got the last laugh, as his team eliminated the Grizzlies in six games and went on to win the NBA championship.
Last season, Brooks hit Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell in the groin, earning him another flagrant 2 foul, ejection, and suspension. Later, he tried to take on LeBron James, calling him “old” early in Memphis’ first-round playoff series against James’ Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 3 of the matchup, Brooks hit James below the belt and was ejected after being assessed yet another flagrant 2 foul.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies & Houston Rockets Updates
The danger is that he could become a toxic influence on the Rockets’ developing players. On the other hand, there is always the chance that 27-year-old Brooks will start to change his ways.
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