Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended for one game after accumulating his 16th technical foul of the season during a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite his reputation as a villain on the court, Brooks is enjoying a career-best scoring year, averaging 21.2 points per game. The Suns, at 32-23, have exceeded expectations partly due to his offensive contributions.
Dillon Brooks, acquired by the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade last offseason, has reinvented himself as a scorer nine years into his NBA career. The 30-year-old forward from Mississauga, Ontario, told reporters that the season has unfolded exactly as he anticipated, focusing on post-up touches and midrange efficiency while maintaining his defensive intensity. He leads the league in technical fouls but has scored at least 25 points in 16 games, including a 40-point performance against the Detroit Pistons two weeks ago. Brooks feels he can score on any defender, a shift from his earlier inconsistency with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he averaged 18.4 points in 2021-22 but with a lower true shooting percentage. Suns forward Ryan Dunn noted that no one knew Brooks' full offensive potential entering the season. Brooks spent last summer training at his high school gym in Father Henry Carr and Humber Lakeshore, obsessing over his game. He worked with skills trainer David Tyndale to reconstruct his shot, addressing issues like knee bend, hand position, and follow-through. Tyndale described Brooks' post-2023 playoff struggles against the Los Angeles Lakers as an embarrassment that motivated him; Brooks shot 31.2% from the field in that series and was not re-signed by Memphis. With the Suns, Brooks has doubled his post-up points compared to his Grizzlies tenure, per Synergy Sports, and 44% of his made shots are unassisted. Teammate Devin Booker called his emergence a relief, while guard Collin Gillespie was surprised by Brooks' handle and shot creation in pickup games. The Suns rank 11th in net rating, with an offense better than last season and league average. However, Brooks' agitator style led to his 16th technical foul in a February 12 loss to the Thunder, triggering an automatic one-game suspension and $5,000 fine under NBA rules. Post-game, Brooks criticized officiating, saying a referee accused him of playing the victim and urged consistency in calls. Suns coach Jordan Ott noted Brooks is still learning, pointing to a poor shooting night against Detroit as a teaching moment. Despite injuries to key players like Booker and Grayson Allen, Brooks' consistency has been vital. Tyndale praised Brooks' dedication, including post-game film reviews and extra workouts. Brooks aims to prove critics wrong and set an example for teammates.
