Dillon Brooks catapulted himself into the spotlight with his brief scuffle against LeBron James. Despite the Memphis Grizzlies ultimately facing an early playoff exit, Brooks’ remarkable playoff run remains a topic of conversation. Little did he know that his journey for the season was far from over. Following his memorable playoff run, the Grizzlies chose to part ways with the 27-year-old player. In an unexpected turn of events, Brooks decided to join the young roster of the Houston Rockets.
Furthermore, he resumed his notorious role by representing Team Canada in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. As the upcoming season nears, Brooks finds himself at the centre of discussions, primarily due to his abrupt departure from the Grizzlies. Consequently, the league’s top villain recently made his intentions clear regarding his former team and Ja Morant.
Dillon Brooks warns Grizzlies
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Even though Dillon Brooks has moved on from his time with the Memphis Grizzlies, it’s evident that he still holds some strong emotions toward his former team. During Rockets’ media day, Brooks didn’t hold back as he addressed the media. Initially, he expressed his candid feelings about facing the Grizzlies in the upcoming season. Further, he embraces his inner villain and makes it clear that he’s marking every game against Memphis on his calendar.
He said,??Big chip. That?s one of the games that?s circled on my list. And we get to get them four times, so that’s amazing.?
Dillon Brooks on his Memphis exit:
“Big chip [on my shoulder]. That’s one of the games that’s circled on my list — and we get them four times, so that’s amazing. pic.twitter.com/XVlU6ZvYdf
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 2, 2023
Brooks was undoubtedly one of the most polarizing figures on the Grizzlies’ roster. Apart from being their defensive hustler, he was their locker room adhesive and the person willing to do all the dirty work. However, with some fans admiring his passion and defensive prowess, others couldn’t overlook his struggles as an efficient scorer.
Spending all six of his NBA years with the Grizzlies, Brooks averages nearly 15 points per game. This summer, he made the move to the Rockets. With his persona and fans’ expectations, the dynamics set the stage for some intriguing matchups between Brooks and his former team in the upcoming season.
Grizzlies acquired Marcus Smart to fill Brooks’ void
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When a franchise player like Dillon Brooks leaves the team, the void is felt throughout the front office. To maintain a healthy balance of responsibilities for the Grizzlies, Memphis pulled off one of the biggest trades in the offseason. They acquired Boston Celtics‘ defensive maestro, Marcus Smart. Furthermore, Smart, even though not flawless, addresses several critical needs of the team.
However, many fans argue that the Grizzlies have only acquired a similar and aged version of Dillon Brooks. Nevertheless, that is not the case. Smart is an elite defender and a vocal veteran with an impressive playoff resume. He holds experience competing in five trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Finals appearance.
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Furthermore, Smart offers more than meets the eye. Apart from having his clamps on the opposition’s best player, his time in Boston has steered him into being a complete player. In several instances, Smart has been seen making crunch-time plays, making him a battle-tested addition. Furthermore, he does not shy away from making the bigger, late-quarter plays.
For a franchise that has been going through maturity issues, Smart’s presence in the locker room is something that they need.