- Former Grizzlies swingman feels appreciated by his national team
- Brooks hints at mutual mistrust in Memphis
- Dillon is aiming to fix his reputation after rough season
Dillon Brooks is not winning an NBA popularity contest, but the guy is all business ahead of his debut season with the Houston Rockets. Currently, as a native Canadian, Brooks is all-in as a representative for Team Canada in the World Cup this year.
In fact, as he told reporters this week, he feels more accepted and welcomed on this team than he did during his stint with the Memphis Grizzlies last season. “Coming off a tough year with my old squad, it was great having a refresh with Canadian blood. Guys who believe in me, guys who have trust in me.”
https://twitter.com/AlexAdamsBTP/status/1698363519035650347
Brooks was thought to be a core member of the Grizzlies before the team’s embarrassing collapse last season. At one point, the Grizzlies were at the top of the West behind the play of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jarren Jackson Jr. Slowly but surely, things in the locker room got out of control and Brooks was the odd man out when they entered the postseason as a shell of themselves.
Against the Lakers in round one is where things really came to an end between Brooks and the Grizzlies. Despite being the higher seed, the Grizzlies got dominated and Brooks had no response to their play. After Dillon called out LeBron to the media, he proceeded to drop the ball when it was time to play and it cost him his spot with the Grizz.
Dillon Brooks Was The Scapegoat For Grizzlies’ Downfall
On the court, Brooks made himself useful as a defensive specialist and it was part of their identity for a while. But when the Grizzlies were exposed as an immature and internally flawed team this past season, trust waned in his abilities.
When Ja Morant got caught in a series of scandals toward the end of the season, Brooks was the guy who people pointed their fingers at for setting the wrong example.
By the time the playoffs arrived, Brooks was falling out of the rotation completely because of his shooting woes and he quickly lost his value. After the series loss, Memphis brutally rejected a chance to reunite with Brooks by informing him of their plans not to offer a contract.
So with the whole world ganging up to troll the six-year veteran, he had no choice but to pack his bags and sign with the Rockets, who gave him a highly lucrative deal.
Brooks Wants Redemption With His New Team
At his best, Brooks was a solid two-way player with star potential. In the 2021-22 campaign, he averaged a career-high 18.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game on 43% shooting.
For Team Canada, ranked 15th this year, Brooks has been having a solid run that could be a hint of what we should expect with the Rockets. At 27 years old, Dillon will be seen as a leader for the young team and it will give him the chance to change the narrative about his career.
The question is, can he stay out of trouble long enough to make a difference? We know the guy will always run his mouth, and it’s gotten him into some serious trouble before but if he can back it up moving forward then maybe the perception about his character will finally begin to change.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
