Dillon Brooks came into Phoenix Suns media day talking about trimming the technical fouls. Five minutes into his first preseason game, he had already picked up one.
That’s the Dillon Brooks story in a nutshell, and preseason has only reinforced it. Through the exhibition slate so far, Brooks has piled up 13 fouls, a total that sits second in the entire NBA. For a player whose game has always carried heat, that number is a loud warning sign before the games start counting for real.
What makes Brooks such a tricky case is that the Suns are getting exactly what they signed up for. Head coach Jordan Ott likely doesn’t want him sanding off the edges, because the intensity and edge are part of the package. Brooks doesn’t play soft, and he doesn’t move through possessions like someone trying to blend in.
But the other side of that equation is just as real. At this point in his career, the 30-year-old is not going to reinvent himself.
He can talk about cutting down the technicals, but he’s not going to stop being Dillon Brooks. And part of the problem is bigger than his own decisions anyway: once a reputation sticks with referees, it tends to follow a player around.
Even when he reins things in, the whistles can still come.
There’s also the way opponents respond to him. Brooks seems to bring out a level of irritation that goes beyond the usual on-court chirping, and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. The technical with John Collins came after both players had been bumping into each other under the basket, and if anything, Collins escalated things.
Brooks, the former Houston Rocket, has actually been the Suns’ best player since their brief postseason experience last season, and that could matter with officials. If he’s producing like a star - 25 points a night and diligent defense on the other end - he has a better chance of getting the same kind of treatment stars often receive.
Still, the preseason version has already made the larger point clear. Brooks is not suddenly becoming someone else.
The fouls are going to keep coming, and the Suns know that some of it will spill into the regular season. That’s the full Dillon Brooks experience.
In Other News...
Suns Good Vibes Will Face A Much Bigger Test Soon
The Celtics Joe Mazzulla recently put a sharp point on what every NBA team eventually faces: the season is as much about handling rough patches as it is about celebrating the smooth ones. For the Suns, that message lands at a useful moment. The group has enjoyed good vibes early, and Jordan Otts defense has given the roster a sturdy identity, but the real test usually comes when the schedule tightens, the losses pile up a little, and the room has to stay together.
Phoenix has enough depth to help absorb some of that pressure, with two-way players like Pat Spencer part of the mix, but the bigger question is how the key pieces hold up if the path gets bumpier. Miles Bridges, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams all carry their own importance to the rotation, which is why the Suns ability to stay connected through any roster strain could matter as much as any single game in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Suddenly Have A Miles Bridges Question Before Opening Night
A preseason ankle scare has put a small pause on what has otherwise been a straightforward ramp-up for Miles Bridges. The Suns said Bridges is recovering well after missing the previous game with a rolled ankle, and they will be careful with his workload in the remaining exhibitions as they try to get him to Opening Night in good shape.
Bridges arrives in Phoenix after being acquired from the Hornets this offseason, and he is expected to fill a key power forward role alongside Dillon Brooks. With the Suns already planning to manage their starters closely before the regular season begins, his status is worth watching less for what it says about October and more for how much live action he gets between now and then. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Need Luke Kennard To Survive One Familiar Test
Luke Kennards fit with the Suns is already looking like one of the more interesting subplots of camp, and not just because of his shot. Phoenix has asked him to let it fly more from deep this season, and he gave a small reminder of why in a recent preseason game, when he knocked down four of 10 from beyond the arc. For a team that wants more spacing around its core pieces, that kind of green light matters, especially when the Suns are trying to build a rotation that can survive the grind of a long season.
The bigger question is whether Kennard can hold up on the other end while doing it. Phoenix has put together a defensive lineup meant to help cover for some of the concerns that have followed him in the past, and the Suns are planning to lean on him as a real contributor if injuries force them deeper into the bench. There is also room for him to grow as a secondary playmaker, which would make his minutes even more valuable, but for now this remains a familiar test: can the Suns get enough shooting from Kennard without losing too much anywhere else? [Read more 🡒]