Memphis Grizzlies forward/guard Dillon Brooks has fully made his NBA heel turn during this year’s playoff stretch.
Brooks earned a flagrant 2 foul and an ejection for hitting LeBron James in the groin during Saturday night’s playoff tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers.
As you can imagine, the vibes on Brooks are not positive right now.
Folks were unimpressed with Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant’s defense of Brooks’ actions, and ESPN commentator Doris Burke gave a brutal assessment of Brooks’ NBA skill set during Saturday’s game.
To boot, this is not the first time this season Brooks has gotten flak for hitting another NBA player in the groin this season. He pulled the same move on Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell in February.
You also have to remember the hit on Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II in last year’s playoffs that earned Brooks a flagrant 2 foul and Payton a playoff-ending fractured elbow.
Well, Brooks doesn’t seem to be looking too hard in the mirror for his designation as one of the NBA’s premiere villains. According to him, it’s the media and the fans who are driving that narrative.
Dillon Brooks, speaking after practice today, said he thinks the perception of him influenced the flagrant 2 call in Game 3. “The media making me a villain, the fans making me a villain, that just creates another persona on me.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 23, 2023
Alright, it doesn’t take but a quick Google search to see that Brooks is very much to blame in part for his reputation around the league.
He’s had no problem getting into beefs with Golden State Warriors players like Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, and his feuding with James reached an ugly nadir on Saturday.
If Brooks won’t take even some accountability for his actions, that’s more than his right. However, he shouldn’t expect the villain’s moniker to fall away anytime soon. As long as his antics continue, so will the critiques.