Dillon Brooks

Canadian basketball player

Dillon Brooks (born January 22, 1996) is a Canadian professional basketball player. He is a small forward-shooting guard for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies. Brooks is known for his trash talk on and off the court with media and fans calling him Villain Brooks.[1][2] Brooks said he likes the negative reaction and that it was a persona.[3]

Dillon Brooks
Brooks playing for Canada on August 9, 2023
No. 9 – Houston Rockets
PositionSmall forward / shooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1996-01-22) January 22, 1996 (age 28)
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolFather Henry Carr
(Toronto, Ontario)
Findlay Prep
(Henderson, Nevada)
CollegeOregon (2014–2017)
NBA draft2017 / Round: 2 / Pick: 45th overall
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career2017–present
Career history
20172023Memphis Grizzlies
2023–presentHouston Rockets
Career highlights and awards

Career

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College

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Brooks played college basketball at University of Oregon. During his time with the Ducks, Brooks would help them win the Pac-12 Conference regular season title. He was also chosen to be on the first-team All-Pac-12 and was named a third-team All-American by the Sporting News.[4][5] The United States Basketball Writers Association named Brooks the District IX player of the year along with coach Dana Altman.[6]

Brooks was selected 45th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2017 NBA draft. The same day, the Rockets traded Brooks and Ivan Rabb to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a future second round picks.[7]

On April 11, 2018, he was able to score a career-high 36 points in a 137–123 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder.[8] He had to miss some of the 2018-19 season because he ruptured a ligament in his right big toe.[9]

He was able to earn a starting role the next season. On February 5, 2020, Brooks and he Grizzlies agreed to a three-year, $35 million extension.[10]

On December 19, 2021, Brooks scored a new career high 37 points during a 105–100 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.[11]

During Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors, Gary Payton II fell and fractured his elbow after being hit by Brooks when he was going for a layup.Brooks was ejected and suspended for the next game.[12]

On February 2, 2023, he punched Donovan Mitchell in the groin which caused a brawl. He was then ejected from the game. He was suspended for a game afterwards.[13][14] During a game against the Miami Heat on March 17, Brooks pushed a cameraman to the ground and was fined $35,000 by the NBA.[15] Brooks was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the 2022–23 season.[16]

During the 2023 NBA playoffs, Brooks said that he "pokes bears" and called LeBron James "old".[17] During Game 3 of the Western Conference first round between the Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooks punched LeBron in the groin and was ejected from the game. The Lakers would go on to win the series. Brooks was criticized for the punch and was fined for not speaking to media after the loss.[18]

On July 8, 2023, Brooks was part of a sign-and-trade deal where he joined the Houston Rockets and signed a four-year, $80 million contract.[19]

National team

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Brooks plays for the Canada men's national basketball team. He played for them during the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023. During the tournament, he helped Canada defeat France, Germany, and World champions Spain to help Canada clinch a spot in the Olympics for the first time since 2000.[20] Canada would defeat the United States to win the bronze medal. It was Canada's first international medal since 1936.[21] He would end up setting a Canadian single game scoring record with 39 points in the game.[22] He was booed by the crowd during the tournament, but was cheered at the end and recieved chants of MVP.[23] Brooks would be named the Best Defensive Player of the tournament.[24]

References

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  1. "Dillon Brooks, Canada's Most Valuable "Villain"". FIBA. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  2. "Oregon star Dillon Brooks happy to play role of Villain Brooks". USA Today. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  3. "How Dillon Brooks Embraced Villain Persona To Medal Against Team USA". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  4. "Pac-12 Men's Basketball Champions". Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  5. "2016-17 Pac-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference Honors". Pac-12 Conference. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  6. "Dana Altman and Dillon Brooks win U.S. Basketball Writers Association awards". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  7. "Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Ivan Rabb and Dillon Brooks". Memphis Grizzlies. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  8. "George, Westbrook lead Thunder past Grizzlies 137-123". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  9. "Dillon Brooks medical update". Memphis Grizzlies. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  10. "Memphis Grizzlies sign Dillion Brooks to multi-year contract extension". National Basketball Association. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  11. "Lillard Scores 32 Points, Trail Blazers Beat Grizzlies". National Basketball Association. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  12. "Dillon Brooks suspended for Game 3 of Memphis Grizzlies-Golden State Warriors series after flagrant foul on Gary Payton II". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  13. "Cavs All-Star Mitchell calls Grizzlies' Brooks dirty player". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  14. "Dillon Brooks suspended 1 game, Donovan Mitchell fined for recent altercation". National Basketball Association. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  15. "Dillon Brooks suspended 1 game, Donovan Mitchell fined for recent altercation". National Basketball Association. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  16. "Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks selected to 2022–23 Kia NBA All-Defensive Teams". Memphis Grizzlies. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  17. "Hey, Dillon Brooks, Poke LeBron James at Your Own Peril". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  18. "Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks fined $25K for not talking to media". ESPN. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  19. "Dillon Brooks lands 4-year deal with Rockets in sign-and-trade". National Basketball Association. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  20. "Down go the champs: Canada knock out Spain in thriller". Canada Basketball. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  21. "Canada holds off U.S. to win bronze at men's Basketball World Cup in OT". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  22. "Canada forward breaks records with 39 points in FIBA World Cup bronze medal win over USA". The Sporting News. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  23. "Canada holds off U.S. to win bronze at men's Basketball World Cup in OT". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  24. "Rockets' Dillon Brooks Named Best Defensive Player At FIBA World Cup". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 12, 2023.

Other websites

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