WATCH: Coach K Once Sounded Off Over Dillon Brooks’ Distasteful Antics

Dillon Brooks has undoubtedly taken the limelight this season, but not in the way that the Grizzlies fans may have been expecting. Brooks has become one of the NBA’s most polarizing figures as a result of his on-court theatrics and off-court remarks. He even took a shot at LeBron James back in April, prior to the start of Game 3 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies. However, it seems like Brooks’ contentious image didn’t develop overnight; it dates back to his time as a star player for the Oregon Ducks during his collegiate years.

Back in 2016, Dillon Brooks shot a 3-point shooter that sealed the game. Surprisingly, Coach K didn’t seem to be a fan of the shot.

Coach K was left upset over Dillon Brook’s three-pointer

Before gracing the NBA hardwood, Dillon Brooks, the formidable small forward played for the University of Oregon. Being a key player for the Oregon Ducks, Brooks attracted the interest of scouts and fans alike by helping the team make several strong runs in the tournament.

During the 2016 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, the Oregon Ducks played the Duke Blue Devils, led by none other than the renowned Mike Krzyzewski, fondly known as Coach K. The Ducks had a stellar 31-7 record in the 2015–16 season, in large part due to Dillon Brooks’ outstanding scoring abilities, who averaged 16.7 points per game. His contributions were crucial in helping Oregon advance to the NCAA Tournament’s elite eight rounds.

The matchup between the top-seeded Oregon Ducks and the fourth-seeded Duke Blue Devils featured a pool of potential NBA stars, including Brooks, Brandon Ingram and Grayson Allen. The Ducks earned a commanding 82-68 victory, solidifying their domination that evening.  However, Dillon Brooks’ next move heated things up and caused an unusual controversy.

With only 10 seconds remaining in the game and the Ducks holding a comfortable 79-68 lead, Brooks audaciously took a three-point shot from beyond the arc and sank it. Despite being executed with amazing finesse, this bold maneuver seems to have upset Coach K.

Following the shot, Coach K approached Brooks and said, “You’re too good of a player to do that. You’re too good of a player.” Brooks even apologized to Coach K.

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But what made Coach K react this way?

Coach K remembers the night differently

Following Oregon’s stunning triumph, Brooks found himself at the center of controversy, and what he said at the moment is now up for discussion. According to SI.com, Brooks acknowledged that Krzyzewski had reprimanded him for his actions during the game, telling him that he was “too good of a player to be showing off at the end.” Recognizing that Krzyzewski had a point, Brooks responded with maturity by saying, “I have to learn from those things.”

However, Krzyzewski fiercely refuted Brooks’ account of what happened. When questioned about the postgame talk, Krzyzewski initially said that he acknowledged Brooks and praised his skills, referring to him as “a terrific player.”

Krzyzewski, though, reacted strongly when faced with Brooks’ recollection of the incident. He claimed, “I didn’t say that. You can say whatever you want. Dillon Brooks is a hell of a player. I said, ‘You’re a terrific player.’ And you can take whatever he said and then go with it, all right?”

Despite the drama of this exchange, Dillon Brooks put on an outstanding on-court performance. With 22 points, six assists and five rebounds, Brooks helped the Oregon Ducks get one step closer to making their first Final Four appearance since 1939.

Some may argue that Brooks’ celebration of a three-pointer in the closing moments of the game went too far. However, it is impossible to deny the fervor and energy with which he plays. This victory was a huge accomplishment for the Oregon program, which has mostly gone unnoticed on the national scene.

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What are your thoughts on Dillion Brooks? Was Coach K right in reprimanding him for celebrating with a risky final shot? Let us know in the comments below!