Dillon Brooks embraces a long -term story to lift the suns

The goal of Dillon Brooks has never been to make friends with opponents. One of his best skills as a basketball player is his ability to irritate other teams and fan bases. However, he is also a big defender, which is an important part of being annoying. It is difficult to be taken seriously if you only Skill is talking waste.

In his first media day as a member of the Phoenix Suns, Brooks thought about his NBA trip and how are his That guy – Those who stirs the pot – has played a role in him and continues to find roles in the NBA.

“I had to look myself in the mirror and say:” How can I be desired? “And from that … enjoy … the villain persona, or whatever you want to do … That just comes from … I am super competitive … Different things try to defend the defensive ending, you know, annoy or wear an attacking player …”

And he is right in that assessment. It was not so long ago that Brooks-after a season that he made a team of all suspects-by the Memphis Grizzlies told that the team would not bring him back under all circumstances. That is as hard as it gets.

Jokes about Brooks who played in China flew. He was the easiest target in the world. So it is not a revisionist history when Brooks says that he really had to sort his path in the NBA afterwards.

Suns needs Brooks to be the annoying defender he has always been

And he shot almost 40% of the 3-point line as he did last season, no harm either. Brooks, together with Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, was a pillar of Rockets no. 5-ranged defense last season. If the defense of the Suns in 2025-26 is close to that dynamic, someone earns a wage increase.

But regardless of the makeup of the team around him, Brooks is guaranteed the Firestarter on the defense. That is an important role in all teams, but even Moreso in a team that has completed a large schedule turnover and will try to form an identity early.

Dillon Brooks leads a potentially solid defense schedule

Questions about the offensive advantage of these Suns team are already driving out of season for a long time – some of them are fair. But on the other hand there is sufficient defensive versatility that, if it is used correctly, Jordan Ott could have an average defensive unit of the Algove League.

There is defensive talent in every position. Jared Butler, Jordan Goodwin, Royce O’Neale, Dillon Brooks and Kaman Maluach should probably not all be on the floor at the same time (unless Ott wants games to end, such as, 63-60), but it will be nice to see how he combines and corresponds to line-ups in a year that is marked.