Dillon Brooks didn’t need much time to go after the Lakers.
On a stream with Neon, the Suns wing made it clear he doesn’t see much ahead for Los Angeles now that LeBron James is gone.
"Oh, Lakers are sweet," said Brooks on a stream with Neon.
"They're so sweet. They're about to get... if Luka [Doncic] don't average 40 [points per game they're cooked]."
Brooks has built a reputation on leaning into the heat, and he didn’t exactly soften his stance on the Lakers even after James moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason. He was also critical of James after that departure.
"I think he's doing everything he can to get a last little ring," said Brooks.
The Lakers are now in a post-James setup with Doncic and Walker Kessler, Austin Reaves + more on the roster. They’re not being viewed as championship favorites the way they were with James, but they should still remain competitive.
That shift could matter for Phoenix, too. The Suns brought back their main free agents this offseason after making the postseason, and with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers sitting in play-in tournament territory, Phoenix has a path to its first Pacific Division title since the 2021-22 season.
Brooks also has his own situation to sort out. He’s heading into the final year of his current contract and is still hoping for a new extension with the Suns before the season begins. Suns leadership has already made it clear they want him around long term.
"He cares, and he leads. And when he speaks, people listen because he puts in the work," Suns owner Mat Ishbia told reporters at the team's end of season press conference.
"... I love Dillon Brooks. Excited for him to continue to be here and be a huge part of our organization."
If Brooks does land a new deal, he’ll be sticking around the Valley for a while longer - and the trash talk, especially against Doncic and the Lakers, figures to keep coming.
For now, the exact timing of that extension is still up in the air.
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The Suns have been busy reinforcing the roster around Devin Booker, and their latest move says plenty about the direction they want to take. Phoenix agreed to a new deal with veteran forward Dillon Brooks, another sign the front office is leaning into continuity after adding other players on multiyear contracts and bringing in fresh talent to stabilize the group.
Brooks gives the Suns the kind of edge and experience they have clearly valued as they reshape the roster. He was already under contract for one more season, but Phoenix moved early to keep him in place for the long run, a decision that fits the teams broader push to build a more settled core around Booker rather than keep cycling through short-term fixes. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Send A Clear Message With Dillon Brooks Commitment
The Suns have spent the offseason making one thing clear: they are not treating last years roster as a temporary fix. Dillon Brooks is the latest example, with Phoenix agreeing to a three-year, $73 million extension that keeps the forward in place through the 2029-30 season. Since arriving in a trade last July, Brooks has become part of a broader push by the Suns to add stability, after he had already carved out a reputation with the Grizzlies and Rockets.
For a team that has already handed out several multi-year deals and made more roster changes this summer, the commitment to Brooks fits the pattern. Phoenix is signaling that it wants more than short-term patchwork around its core, and it is willing to pay to keep players who match that direction. The next question is how far the Suns keep going as they continue shaping the roster around those longer commitments. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Brooks Just Reinforced The Identity These Suns Want To Be
Dillon Brooks is sticking around in Phoenix, and the Suns made sure of it by locking up the forward with a three-year, $73 million extension that runs through the 2029-30 season. The deal is fully guaranteed and has no options, a clear sign the organization values the edge, toughness and edge-of-the-seat style Brooks has brought as he headed into the final year of his previous contract.
For a team trying to define what it wants to look like moving forward, this is a fairly loud statement about identity. Brooks will earn just over $22 million in the first year of the extension, and the length of the commitment suggests the Suns see him as more than just a useful piece for the moment. They see him as part of the tone they want setting nightly. [Read more 🡒]