Dillon Brooks is staying put in Phoenix, and he’s not pretending his goals are modest.
After signing a three-year, $73 million extension with the Suns, Brooks made it clear what’s driving him.
"Villain is here to stay," Brooks said to The Arizona Republic after signing. "Championship is all on my mind."
That mindset fits the role he carved out for Phoenix last season. Brooks brought scoring and defensive toughness at a time when the Suns needed both, and his presence helped power their push toward the postseason in 2025-26.
The Suns are banking on that impact carrying over, especially with some continuity around Devin Booker and Jalen Green as Jordan Ott enters his second season as head coach. Ott has been outspoken about what Brooks brings, and he pointed to the forward’s habits and tone-setting approach at the end of the regular season.
"He's more of a lead by example type of guy. I think since day one when he stepped foot here into the city he's lived in a gym.
Our guys feel that even yesterday, coming off of a trip where we would be gone for over a week, the gym was not normal. I've only been here one year, so I've only seen what this team does, but I have been around the league.
That is not normal," Ott said of Brooks' work ethic at the end of the regular season.
"How many guys are in the gym on a day after a trip like that? A lot of that comes from his type of leadership, and then just his edge he plays with.
He brings it every night. We're going to see more of it tonight.
Our group follows that."
Phoenix fans embraced that edge almost right away, filling Mortgage Matchup Center and leaning into Brooks’ "villain" image. Now the Suns have committed to it long term, with Brooks under contract through the 2029 season.
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