Dillon Brooks maintained a bad-boy image of him ever since his days at Memphis, and it has never really left. Around the league, he is still one of the most irritating players for opponents and one of the most crucial presences on the floor for his own team.
Dillon Brooks goes rant mode
That edge, however, comes with consequences as Brooks now tops the league with 12 technical fouls. Following Phoenix's win on Sunday, he added another along with a fine and used the moment to unload the officials.
“I’ll never give the refs credit for what I do,” Brooks said. “They say I antagonize or taunt when I’m speaking to a person who the possession before pushed me in my chest, which I got a T a past game before.”
He didn't stop there.
“I can’t say on media cause I’ll get fined like $50,000, $25,000,” Brooks continued. “They give me a T for who I am. That’s weird, and that’s unappreciative and this is the same ref who gets manhandled in the Laker game and doesn’t give a T out. I’m not going to give any names. You can go look up who it is.”
The comments were targeted at Scott Twardoski, the officials who hit Brooks with a technical on Sunday and also worked Phoenix's earlier game against the Lakers.
In that game, an aggressive LeBron James was not ejected after contact with Twardoski. Brooks, meanwhile, was tossed for celebrating a late three that put the Suns in front.
Brooks admitted that he earned most of his technical, "nine pr ten," by his count, he believes the rest come from reputation more than action.
Dillon Brooks reveals how he stays composed despite feeling singled out by referees
The Phoenix Suns secured their 10th win in 13 games on Sunday with a 112-93 win against the Washington Wizards as Devin Booker, Royce O'Neale and Dillon Brooks all chipped in with double digits.
However, Brooks found himself in troubling waters in the third quarter after an on-court conversation with Justin Champagnie. He later expressed his frustration towards the officials, but also dropped an insight into how he keeps himself in check, despite feeling singled out by refs.
"I still be me," Brooks said. "That's why I'm playing the way I'm playing at an all-time high. Today, I was even toned down. I was not really being myself until I got called out my name."
Dillon Brooks' importance in the Suns
Even after his disciplinary issues, Brooks has continued to improve and has been a key player for the Suns, averaging 21.3 points per game.