Draymond Green is once again at the center of attention - and not for the reasons that helped define his championship legacy with the Golden State Warriors.
In back-to-back games, Green stirred headlines for all the wrong reasons. First came a heated matchup with the Phoenix Suns, where his presence - and antics - were impossible to ignore.
Then, in the Warriors’ next outing against the Orlando Magic, Green made waves again, this time leaving the bench after what appeared to be a tense exchange with head coach Steve Kerr. He didn’t return to the game, sitting out the final 20 minutes.
For a player once seen as the emotional engine of a dynasty, it was a telling moment.
So what does this have to do with Dillon Brooks and the Phoenix Suns? Quite a bit, actually.
Brooks has quickly become a fan favorite in The Valley. His hard-nosed defense, relentless energy, and unapologetic edge have all endeared him to a Suns fanbase that craves toughness.
He plays every possession like it matters - because to him, it does. That kind of intensity can be contagious in the best way.
It holds teammates accountable. It raises the floor during the grind of an 82-game season.
And when you're winning, it’s celebrated.
But there’s a flip side to that coin - and Green is the cautionary tale.
For years, the Warriors embraced Green’s fire because it fueled championships. His voice carried weight in the locker room.
His presence on the floor was vital to Golden State’s identity. But now, at 35, as his athleticism fades and his production dips, that same intensity can feel more like a distraction than a spark.
The outbursts, the confrontations - they’re no longer covered by the blanket of winning. And in a locker room with veterans like Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III, and a coach like Kerr who’s seen it all, that kind of volatility wears thin.
That’s the line the Suns need to watch with Brooks. Right now, there’s no cause for concern.
He’s locked in, playing hard, and giving Phoenix exactly what they hoped for when they brought him in. But if the team stumbles - if they miss the playoffs this year, as some expect, and don’t take a meaningful step forward next season - the dynamic could shift.
That same intensity that’s currently admired could start to feel like noise.
On the flip side, if the Suns do make the playoffs and Brooks plays a key role in pushing a higher seed to the brink, he’ll earn even more leeway to keep being the player he’s always been. That’s the sweet spot: when a team is winning and the edge a player brings is seen as an asset, not a liability.
Green walked that line for a long time - and to his credit, walked it better than almost anyone in the modern era. He was a foundational piece of a dynasty. But now, as his influence wanes and his outbursts grow more frequent, the Warriors are feeling the cost of that emotional investment.
The Suns don’t want to find themselves in that same place with Brooks. They love what he brings - and rightfully so.
But staying ahead of the curve means recognizing the warning signs before they become issues. Ironically, one of those signs came in the Suns’ own recent loss to the Warriors, where tensions flared and Brooks’ fiery personality was on full display.
This isn’t about changing who Dillon Brooks is. It’s about making sure the environment around him continues to support - and benefit from - the energy he brings.
Because when managed right, that edge can be a weapon. When it’s not, it can become a distraction.
Just ask Golden State.