If you’re not familiar with Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies, or his game, then allow me to start this off bluntly. Dillon Brooks does not care. The man’s primary desire when stepping on the court, other than helping the team win games, is to make the person across from him as mad as physically possible. He wants to get people ejected from the game for technical fouls. He finds joy in being responsible for people having their worst game statistically. That is who he is, and he is very much proud of that fact.
If I had to find an NFL equivalent to Brooks, it would be Philadelphia Safety C.J Gardner-Johnson. The distinct difference between the two is, Brooks does more than study game film and player profiles. Tim Keown of ESPN went into great detail about Brooks, his play style, and what it was like speaking directly to him. Many prominent players were named during his talk with Brooks, such as Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.
Here is what Keown had to say:
Brooks treated Tatum like a blocking dummy, gaining leverage by shoving him as he moved from spot to spot, tilting his balance just enough to make even the thought of a catch-and-shoot daunting. He fought through screens like a martial artist. When forced to switch, he did it with a quick, barely noticeable two-handed shove that bought him a split-second each time. Tatum, who entered the game scoring nearly 31 points per game, shot 3 -for-16 against Brooks and went scoreless in the second half. The Celtics won, but Tatum finished with 16 points, and at some point, he simply stopped trying to score. In the language of the game, he got off the ball. To Brooks, there are no sweeter words. Afterward, Brooks told me, Tatum turned into “a willing passer.” On paper, those three words strung together sound like praise; in person, the barb was unmistakable. Tatum turned into “a willing passer.”
Let those words sink in for a moment. Regardless of the outcome of the game, Brooks wanted Tatum to feel him. He wanted him to remember who it was that shut him out in the second-half.
A lot of guys around the league don’t like having to play against Brooks, and he takes a lot of pride in that. Whenever he can get into people’s heads, it makes his personal game that much better. That said, he doesn’t have an effect on everybody he goes up against. Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry were listed as two guys that have very thick skin and are cool and composed regardless of whatever Brooks attempts to do.
Brooks had some praise-worthy remarks to say about Curry and his mental toughness. “He’s seen everything, had all types of defenders guard him. Every play is for him, illegal screens every single night, but he’s one guy who is mentally strong when he plays against me.”
But just because he respects Curry, does not mean he likes the Golden State Warriors. In fact, the man can’t seem to stand that team at all. Especially Draymond Green.
“I don’t like Draymond at all,” Brooks says. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool—with Golden State—but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.”
Every team says they need a player like Dillon Brooks but we will see how it all works out in the playoffs where the Grizzlies haven’t proven anything yet.