Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Playful Jab at Dillon Brooks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP of the NBA, reveled in a playful jab at Suns guard Dillon Brooks following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s decisive victory over Phoenix, which completed a first-round playoff sweep. The Thunder clinched the series with a 120-107 win on Monday, showcasing Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance that night where he netted 37 points. This victory has propelled his team into the next stage of the playoffs, enabling the 2025 NBA champion to adopt a lighthearted villainous persona online.
Instagram Post and Competitive Banter
Following this win, Gilgeous-Alexander took to Instagram to relish in the moment, sharing a photo that playfully altered Brooks’ last name on his jersey to “Cancun On.” This cheeky reference was directed at Brooks’ comments made earlier in the series where he criticized Gilgeous-Alexander for “flopping” and labeled him as “frail” after a Game 2 scare where Gilgeous-Alexander scored while playfully mock-pointing at Brooks.
In his Instagram post, Gilgeous-Alexander cleverly commented, “everybody wants to be villainous until the brooms come out & the dust settles & you realize who the villain is,” in reaction to Brooks’ character during the series.
Brooks did not miss the occasion to respond, dubbing the MVP’s post as “sounds like a ghost writer – The Villain.”
The “Cancun” Reference
The joke surrounding “Cancun” has become a notable tag for players who conclude their seasons unceremoniously, and its origin traces back to Lakers guard Nick Van Exel‘s infamous phrase during a 1998 postseason where he playfully suggested a huddle cheer of “One, two, three … Cancun!” when the Lakers were down 3-0 in their playoff series.
Mutual Respect Amidst Rivalry
Despite the competitive banter, Gilgeous-Alexander expressed respect for Brooks, acknowledging their friendship. He complimented Brooks on his development as a player, calling it “impressive” how he has adapted his game. He emphasized that the “villain” antics of Brooks do not influence his perception of him, stating,
“You know, Dillon, he’s a great competitor, a great guy. All that villain stuff, it doesn’t faze me. I know exactly who Dillon is.”
Performance Overview
Across their first-round encounters, Gilgeous-Alexander emerged with an average of 33.8 points and 8.0 assists, while Brooks contributed with 26.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, both players now seemingly eyeing a tropical getaway as the season comes to its conclusion for the Suns.
