The Phoenix Suns have quietly become one of the NBA’s most compelling stories this season - and no, it’s not because of a blockbuster trade or a superstar resurgence. It’s because of Dillon Brooks.
Yes, that Dillon Brooks.
On Wednesday night, the Suns eked out a gritty win at home over the Brooklyn Nets, moving to 28-19 on the season. That’s a solid record on its own, but when you consider this is the same team that traded away Kevin Durant in the offseason, it’s even more impressive.
Many expected Phoenix to take a step back - instead, they’ve taken a leap forward. And leading that charge?
Brooks, who’s playing the best basketball of his career.
The former NBA villain - long known more for his trash talk than his stat lines - has flipped the script in his first year in Phoenix. He’s averaging over 20 points per game, but it’s not just the raw scoring that stands out.
He’s become a three-level threat: creating his own shot off the dribble, knocking down spot-up looks with confidence, and finishing through contact. On defense, he’s still the same relentless pest, locking up wings and setting the tone with his physicality.
That two-way impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Charles Barkley, a Suns legend himself, recently revealed that he voted Brooks onto his All-Star reserves list.
“I put Dillon Brooks [on my all-star reserves team]… I think we’re going to announce it tomorrow, probably,” Barkley said during an interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Then came the kicker - a comparison that might’ve seemed laughable a year ago but suddenly carries weight.
“What’s different than what he does than Draymond?” Barkley asked. “What Dillon Brooks is doing for the Phoenix Suns is similar and comparable to what Draymond does for the Warriors when they were rolling, and he was like the third or fourth All-Star.”
It’s a bold statement, but not an outlandish one. Like Draymond Green in his prime, Brooks is anchoring the defense, bringing edge and energy, and doing the dirty work that doesn’t always show up in the box score. But unlike Draymond, Brooks is also carrying a significant offensive load - and doing it efficiently.
What’s perhaps most impressive is how his intensity has become contagious. This Suns team plays with a level of fire and urgency that was missing during the Durant era, when talent was never the issue but cohesion and grit often were.
Brooks has helped change that culture. He’s not just producing - he’s leading.
Now, with the season nearing its midpoint, the Suns are firmly in the mix for a top-six seed in the Western Conference. That’s a far cry from the uncertainty that surrounded them just a few months ago. And while there’s still a long road ahead, one thing is clear: Dillon Brooks isn’t just rehabilitating his image - he’s rewriting it.
From antagonist to All-Star candidate, Brooks is proving that sometimes, the biggest surprises come from the players you least expect.