Holding onto your NBA career to enjoy over a decade of playing at the highest level isn’t easy. Given the lack of roster spots, talent alone will never be enough to hold onto an NBA roster spot for more than a few years. As a result, players try to find their niche, which allows them to add value to the team. Some players add value by being annoying instigators even when their on-ball skills aren’t the best.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown recently discussed players like that on the ‘Millions $ Worth of Game’ podcast, singling out Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks for being an avid trash-talker and calling his actions ‘weird.’
“The only person who really does weird stuff and talk trash is Dillon Brooks. That’s his gimmick, though. Some players do whatever they need to do to stick in the league, so they talk trash, get under your skin, try to push you a little bit. All that type of stuff, he’s the only person that’s done that to me, nobody else really do that.”
“Maybe a little bit from the guy from Indiana, (Andrew) Nembhard. He does a little bit of that, tug on your shorts a little bit. Doing stuff to get into your own head.”
https://twitter.com/Sports_Legacyy/status/1909275580484174177
Calling Brooks’ actions weird right now is topical after fans made fun of how he tried guarding LeBron James on a post-up recently. To the untrained eye, Brooks’ defense on that play would look like something else entirely. Basketball fans who knew what Brooks was trying to do were still calling his style of play weird after that play.
Dillon Brooks with an interesting strategy to guard LeBron
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 1, 2025
Brooks has had his fair share of incidents with LeBron over the years, which even cost him a job in 2023. His relentless trash-talk against LeBron led to the Lakers easily demolishing Brooks’ Memphis Grizzlies in the Playoffs, prompting the Grizzlies to cut ties with Brooks before he entered the free agent market that season.
Despite the controversy and clear rejection by the team that developed him, Brooks landed a four-year contract to join the Rockets. While people derided the franchise for overpaying, Brooks has delivered tremendous value to Houston as a leader and perimeter enforcer. The franchise is headed to the Playoffs after five years with the No. 2 seed this season.
Brooks is averaging 14.1 points and 3.7 rebounds. His numbers don’t stick out, but his presence as a 3-and-D forward who’s not afraid of any matchup has allowed him to provide real value to Houston’s success.
Brooks is yet another name in the long line of NBA players who gained notoriety by just being pesky on the court. Patrick Beverley is another recent example, with many of his peers hating his style of play. However, his style of play fostered leadership and camaraderie, which explains why Beverley had a 12-year NBA career.
