Home

NBA

Once Deemed As “Villain” For Lebron James’ Comments, Dillon Brooks Exhibits Completely Different Side; Fans Call Him “Inspirational”

Published 10/01/2023, 1:39 PM EDT

Follow Us

via Imago

With his aggressive playing style and trash-talking, Dillon Brooks has become one of the league’s most antagonizing players. The former Memphis Grizzlies forward shot some controversial comments at LeBron James during the first round of the playoffs last season, earning him the reputation of a ‘villain’ in the league. However, months after being dubbed a ‘Villain’ by the media and the fans, a new side of him has emerged that caused the fans to switch sides.

A different side of Dillon Brooks after LeBron James fiasco

The Lakers swept the Grizzlies in a 4–2 series win, eliminating them from the playoffs last season. However, Brooks made a historical comeback this summer. He led Team Canada to their first-ever FIBA medal. During the World Cup, the crowd went from booing him to chanting ‘MVP’ in response to his incredible feat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

via Getty

Dillon’s ability to dominate the court on both ends has been his most invaluable asset. He can effortlessly create shots and guard even the most formidable offensive forces. Brooks posted 39 points, four rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks against Team USA in a 127-118 overtime win.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The 6-foot-7-inch wing inked a four-year, $80M contract with the Houston Rockets earlier this off season, ending his stint with the Grizzlies. We can now see a different side of him after the trade, one that differs from his usual brash demeanour on the court. The Rockets wing recently hosted a basketball clinic for the youth at Morefield Boys & Girls Club. More than 60 kids took part in the drills conducted by Brooks.

In addition to organizing the clinic, Brooks also donated gift cards from Academy Sports and Outdoors to all participants. This new playful side of Brooks created waves on social media, with fans dubbing him the future fan favorite.

Fans heap praise on the Houston Rockets’ wing

Fans started to pour in their praise for the 27-year-old after witnessing him conduct drills for the little kids. After his incredible production at the World Cup, there is no doubt about the value Brooks can bring to Houston. One fan expressed his views on the Brooks trade to the Rockets.

Another fan thought this new side of the Rockets forward was inspirational.

After his phenomenal defensive performances against Luka Doncic and Evan Fournier in the tourney, no one was surprised when he was announced the Best Defensive Player At FIBA World Cup. One fan declared him as the DPOY even before the start of training camp.

One fan had a change of heart after watching him bond with the children at Morefield Boys & Girls Club.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Another fan predicted that he would become a fan favourite.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Rockets’ general manager Rafael Stone has made some serious moves this season to bolster the rebuilding Houston Rockets team. How do you think this season will turn out for the Rockets?

Watch This Story: New Twist Fuels LeBron James-Dillon Brooks Rivalry: Sixers Legend Charles Barkley Credits X Factor Behind Lakers Billionaire’s Dominance

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Darshita Daga

614Articles

One take at a time

Darshita Daga is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing Bachelor’s in English, she’s a fervent sports enthusiast with a keen interest in sports journalism, specifically covering the NBA. She feels that words have the potential to capture the spirit of a game, evaluate moves, and portray the emotions that occur both on and off the court.
Show More>

Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty