Dillon Brooks Is Thriving in Phoenix-and Devin Booker’s Taking Notice
PHOENIX - Devin Booker knows a thing or two about elite offensive basketball. He’s been the face of the Phoenix Suns’ scoring attack for years, a perennial problem for opposing defenses. But after a recent standout performance, it’s his teammate-Dillon Brooks-who’s turning heads and flipping the script on his offensive reputation.
Devin Booker playfully commented on Dillon Brooks' improved play this season:
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 24, 2025
“He wasn’t this good when we played against him. He would score but it wouldn’t be that efficient. Now you can see the work and the work has brought the confidence with it.”
(via @HaydenCilley) pic.twitter.com/e9SROtTgDb
Brooks poured in 25 points on an ultra-efficient 10-of-15 shooting night, a stat line that stood out not just because of the scoring, but because of how clean and controlled it looked. No rebounds, no assists, no frills-just buckets. And for a player long known more for his defensive grit and emotional edge than smooth offensive rhythm, it’s a sign of something bigger brewing in Phoenix.
This isn’t just a hot streak. Brooks is having a career year with the Suns, and it's clear that the change of scenery has brought out a different version of his game.
The confidence is real-and it's earned. He’s playing with the kind of poise and purpose that comes when a team believes in your role and lets you lean into it.
That belief is something Brooks didn’t always feel in his previous stops. But now, in Phoenix, he’s flourishing. And Devin Booker sees it too.
“I think he's gotten better. I think he's put the work in.
He wasn't this good when we played against him,” Booker said with a grin after the game. “He would score.
It wouldn't be that efficient, but now you can see the work, and the work has brought confidence with it. So it's been a pleasure to watch him develop in a whole new situation and take advantage of it.”
That’s not just praise-it’s respect from one of the league’s most polished scorers. And it speaks to the growing chemistry between the two.
When Brooks landed in Phoenix, Booker was one of the first people he called. Since then, they’ve built a bond rooted in their shared competitiveness.
They might express it in different ways-Booker with his calm intensity, Brooks with his fire-but the drive is the same.
Brooks has long embraced the “villain” label, leaning into the edge that makes him such a disruptive force on defense. But what sometimes got lost in the noise was the impact he had on winning.
In Memphis and Houston, his teams consistently ranked among the league’s better defensive units when he was on the floor. Sure, his shot selection could be erratic at times, but his defensive value was never in question.
Now, in Phoenix, things have clicked on both ends. Suns head coach Jordan Ott has been clear about what the team expected when they brought Brooks in-and what they were willing to live with.
They knew they were getting a tone-setter, a culture-changer, a guy who brings edge and accountability. But what they’re getting in return-a more efficient, confident scorer-is an unexpected bonus.
That’s the real story here. Phoenix didn’t just land a defensive anchor or a locker room leader.
They got a player who’s evolving in real time, reshaping his game and expanding his impact. And in a league where fit and opportunity can make all the difference, Brooks is showing what can happen when the right player finds the right team at the right time.
The Suns were looking for someone to bring a spark. Instead, they might’ve found a flame that’s just getting started.