Speaking to the media ahead of the game against the Rockets on Wednesday, LeBron James opened up on Dillon Brooks and his new tenure in Houston. Despite the heat for signing a 4-year, $80 million deal this summer, LeBron James says Brooks is worth every penny when you consider his ultra-competitive nature.
“Every player that is awarded a contract for a reason and they are worthy for the contract they get,” said James. “I think in [Brooks] case, he was worthy of the contract he got. He’s put in the work since he came out of Oregon… Houston found value in him and now he’s here.”
LeBron James credited Dillon Brooks’ competitive nature at shootaround in Houston and said he earned the contract he got from the Rockets coming off the Grizzlies-Lakers playoff series. pic.twitter.com/BHrDGdBybz
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 8, 2023
Those are some strong words from LeBron towards a guy he butted heads with during last season’s playoff run. After several interactions during the series, James had to address the situation to the media, denouncing Brooks’ antagonistic behavior. Of course, it ultimately led to Dillon being exiled from the Grizzlies, and he was sent to the summer with an uncertain future.
Today, Dillon has put all that behind him now as he sets a new standard for his career with the Rockets. With one of the best stretches of his career yet, Brooks is validating his $80 million contract and forcing all of his biggest critics, doubters, and haters, to re-think their assessment of the former Grizzlies swingman.
A Comeback Story For Dillon Brooks
One of the biggest grips with Dillon was his notorious habit of trash-talking, which crossed the line several times during his run in Memphis. On the court, things reached a breaking point for Brooks last season when he shot 39% from the field and 32% from three. Being nearly unplayable at times, Dillon was a liability for the Grizzlies for much of the season and nobody was expecting anything different for the 2023-24 campaign.
It’s still too early to say if this performance is sustainable, but Brooks is really beginning to change the narrative of his potential with the Rockets. In 6 games so far, Brooks is averaging 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on a career-high 59% shooting and 56% from three. Needless to say, Brooks has been phenomenal with his new team on both ends of the floor, and if he’s playing like this for months at a time it could elevate the franchise to another tier in the Western Conference.
The Rockets Are On The Rise
The Brooks signing was just one of a number of moves this past summer for the Rockets. They also signed veteran point guard/NBA champion sharpshooter Fred VanVleet and lottery pick Amen Thompson, who has looked promising in the limited sample size so far. While the Rockets are still far away from top contenders like the Nuggets, Warriors, and Lakers in the West, they are finally trending in the right direction for the first time in years.
To start this campaign, they picked up quality wins against the Hornets and Kings, which included a 25-point blowout on Monday. Already, they are on track for more wins than last season, and if young stars like Jalen Green and Alperen Shengun continue to develop it could set the stage for an unexpected run of dominance in 2024. For now, the Rockets still have a lot to prove, and beating the Lakers tonight will certainly be a step in the right direction.
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