Dillon Brooks Reflects on Ejection Incident
Dillon Brooks, the forward for the Phoenix Suns, expressed some regrets regarding a recent incident involving LeBron James that resulted in his ejection from a game. During a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, Brooks described his actions as “out of character” after confronting James following a play where James made contact with him. This confrontation occurred with just seconds left in the game, where Brooks had previously helped his team come back from a significant 20-point deficit by hitting a crucial 3-pointer that temporarily put the Suns ahead.
Game Incident and Consequences
Despite evident contact by James during his follow-through, referees chose not to call a foul, a decision later upheld by the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report. Brooks, who has a long-standing rivalry with James, confronted him directly after the non-call and ended up receiving a technical foul, which was his second of the game, leading to his removal from the court.
Brooks’ Reflections on Emotions and Impact
In a reflective moment on Wednesday, Brooks acknowledged the need to manage his emotions better to remain impactful on the court. He lamented that allowing incidents to distract him often results in his absence from the game, despite his belief that he can significantly influence the outcome when he stays focused. He stated,
“That’s my problem through my whole career, I let those things happen, and then I’m off the floor.”
Tensions with LeBron James
Both Brooks and James received early technical fouls during the game, and tensions flared after an incident where James accused Brooks of throwing a ball toward him intentionally. Brooks speculated that James might be keeping tabs on his comments circulating on social media, labeling him a “social media junkie,” while also pointing out James’ recent online activity, including a tweet about watching a golfing episode on YouTube.
Brooks on His Playing Style and Officiating
Furthermore, Brooks addressed his thoughts on James’ public persona, asserting that he wouldn’t conform to how James thinks he should act.
“He’s in his moods or whatever it is. I’m all for that,”
Brooks remarked.
Currently enjoying a career-best scoring average of 21.6 points per game along with three rebounds and 1.8 assists in his first season with the Suns, Brooks, 29, was traded from the Houston Rockets in the summer and is in the third year of a substantial four-year, $86 million contract initially signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. Known for his tenacity and sometimes controversial demeanor, dubbed “Dillon the Villain” in basketball circles, Brooks maintains that his style is simply a reflection of his aggressive nature on the court rather than a deliberate effort to provoke. He commented on the inconsistency of officiating, saying,
“I guess it was a timeout, and then it goes back to the rule I never heard of, that when there’s bumping and stuff — like every single game there is — [the officials] pick and choose whether it’s a technical foul or not.”
