Dillon Brooks has never been one to bite his tongue, and during Game 5 of the first-round series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, the controversial forward made headlines yet again.
Following Houston’s emphatic 131–116 win to stave off elimination, Brooks openly admitted to targeting Stephen Curry’s injured thumb, a revelation that has sparked outrage and debate across the NBA community. Speaking postgame, Brooks didn’t shy away from the allegations.
“If I had an injured ankle, I would attack that ankle every single time. So, whatever they’re saying on the broadcast, they can keep saying it.”
The comment came in response to mounting criticism from broadcasters and fans who believed he was deliberately making contact with Curry’s right hand, already compromised due to a recurring thumb issue.
The incident in question happened early in Game 5, when Brooks appeared to swipe at Curry’s hand after a jump shot. No foul was called, but Curry was visibly irritated, pointing at his hand and gesturing to officials.
He played just 23 minutes in the game, scoring 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting, and was seen postgame icing the injured area.
While some might call Brooks’ approach unsportsmanlike, others argue he’s simply playing within the rules of playoff basketball. The NBA currently allows incidental contact with a shooter’s hand after a shot is released.
That loophole has come under fire from coaches like Steve Kerr, who said after the game.
From Brooks’ perspective, it’s simply part of the game. His physical brand of basketball has always walked the line between aggressive and antagonistic. But in a postseason environment where every possession matters, his tactics are helping Houston claw their way back into the series.
Brooks finished the game with 24 points and was instrumental in both limiting Curry and setting the tone for the Rockets defensively.
Yet the bigger concern now is whether the NBA will revisit its rules regarding contact with a player’s shooting hand post-release. Kerr and others believe the loophole invites dirty play, intentional or not.
As the series shifts back to the Chase Center for Game 6, tensions are at an all-time high. Whether or not the league intervenes, one thing is clear, Dillon Brooks has fully embraced the role of villain. And with the Rockets gaining momentum, he might just be the chaos factor that keeps Golden State off balance.
