Dillon Brooks took his offseason work in a different direction this summer, and the Phoenix Suns made sure everybody saw it. The forward spent part of his time in the Wudang Mountains of China training in Kung Fu, with the team posting footage and photos of Brooks working with martial arts masters.
The Suns described the trip as a Kung Fu masterclass in the mountains, and one post was captioned, “Experiencing it all in Wudang.” The video and images gave fans a look at Brooks away from the usual NBA setting and into a far less familiar training ground.
For a player whose identity has long been tied to force, edge, and confrontation, the fit almost feels on brand. Brooks has built a reputation as one of the league’s most controversial defenders, and he has never shied away from leaning into the villain label while trying to get under opponents’ skin.
That style has also come with consequences. Brooks has racked up plenty of technical fouls and ejections over the years, including 17 technical fouls last season, which led to a suspension at one point. He has said he wants to cut down on those technicals next season, which makes this particular offseason detour stand out even more.
Kung Fu training brings a different kind of discipline to the table. Balance, concentration, rhythm, body control - those are the traits often tied to martial arts, and they can translate in subtle ways to basketball. Brooks has never lacked toughness, but if the experience helps him add a little more composure, that could matter just as much as anything physical.
The trip also sparked an immediate comparison to Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs star visited the Shaolin Temple in China last offseason, trained with monks, and took part in martial arts exercises, so once Brooks’ videos surfaced, fans started joking that he was following the same path.
Brooks is coming off the best season of his career, too. In his first full season with the Suns, he averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, and it was the first time he cleared 20 points for a season. He was even better in the playoffs, putting up 26.0 points before Phoenix was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
He also missed 26 games during the season, but when he was on the floor, he showed he can bring more than defense and disruption.
Most players spend the summer in the weight room, at open gyms, or fine-tuning their jumper. Brooks went to one of China’s most famous Kung Fu destinations instead.
Whether it changes anything on the court remains to be seen.
But if Brooks comes back a little more disciplined and still every bit as physical, opponents may have the Wudang Mountains to thank.
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