Dillon Brooks of the Houston Rockets has definitely made some enemies during his time in the NBA.
Both players and fans have been rubbed the wrong way by his special brand of trash-talking and confidence.
But all that really matters is that his teammates like him and want to play with him.
Jabari Smith Jr. recently spoke to The Athletic about Brooks and all he brings to the team.
He had nothing but praise.
“He can tell us different ways and tricks to guard different actions and people…He watches a lot of film. He’s keyed in on that stuff,” Smith said.
Dillon Brooks is an artist.
He takes extreme pride in his defense and has the power to raise the floors and ceilings of five-man units.
Brooks spoke with @KellyIko about his defensive mindset, and how he hopes to impact his Rockets teammates ⤵️https://t.co/yIRdx46Ydg pic.twitter.com/DFJvfSShx4
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) October 17, 2023
At the end of last season, it seemed like Brooks had gotten himself into a very tricky situation.
Because of an embarrassing postseason, there were some who viewed Brooks as toxic and questioned his future in the league.
The Memphis Grizzlies apparently didn’t want him anymore and his next steps were not clear.
But then the Rockets picked up the phone and wanted to sign Brooks to a new deal.
Last season, he averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.
However, his impact on the Rockets will go beyond that.
Based on Smith’s comment, it’s clear that Brooks can do a lot for team chemistry, inspiration, and leadership.
The Rockets are still a very young, unproven team but they are undergoing a big transformation.
They have made some recent moves that could set them up to be playoff contenders within the next few years.
That will be because of the talent on the team, of course, but also because of the bonds built and the leadership from veterans on the roster.
Brooks understands the game: he knows how to guard players and get in their heads.
He will teach the young Rockets players everything he knows.
