The preseason camp is going on and teams are already dominating the courts ahead of entering the 2023/2024 NBA season. So has been the case with the Houston Rockets, who were involved in a preseason game against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
While it was only a preseason fixture, it seems Dillon Brooks can’t leave his old habits on the court, making fouls every now and then. Brooks has been heavily fined for a flagrant-two foul committed during their Tuesday matchup against the Indiana Pacers.
NBA fines Dillon Brooks for reckless contact
The NBA fined Houston Rockets player Dillon Brooks $25,000 for “recklessly making contact with Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis in the groin area.” The incident occurred with 7:27 remaining in the first quarter of the Rockets and Pacers’ preseason game. Brooks was dismissed from the contest after receiving a flagrant two-foul call. Although Brooks did not complete the game, the Rockets got to win 122-103 against the Pacers.
In response to the incident, Dillon Brooks stated postgame, “I tried to navigate a screen. I might have tapped him below the waist. But he got right back up. I don’t know. It’s weird that I get picked on every time it happens to me. I guess it’s part of my reputation.”
When asked whether he feels targeted by officials, Brooks responded, “What’s my name? My name is ‘Dillon the Villain,’ so I guess.”
This is not the first time Dillon Brooks has been involved in such an incident, as he previously received attention for a similar foul during last season’s playoffs while playing for the Memphis Grizzlies against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Brooks was even named the player with the most technical fouls committed in the NBA last season.
What did Brooks say to LeBron James?
Dillon Brooks didn’t hold back when discussing LeBron James during their playoff matchup. After Game 2 of the series, Brooks trash-talked LeBron James, stating, “I don’t care, he’s old. I was waiting for that. I was expecting him to do that in Game 4, and Game 5. He wanted to say something when I got my fourth foul. He should’ve been saying that earlier on. But, you know, I poke bears. I don’t respect no one until they come and give me 40 [points].”
LeBron James is regarded as a legend in the game, but according to Brooks, LeBron is just another player on the court, despite all his successes. When competing against teammates, he said that players frequently pay too much attention to their colleagues’ successes. He also said he is determined to make his own reputation in the league.
This trash talks from Dillon Brooks added intensity to their playoff matchup, and the series was tied at 1-1 at the time. LeBron James known for his poise and experience, took on the challenge without letting the verbal exchanges affect his game.
What are your thoughts on Dillon Brooks’ tendency of committing fouls? Share with us in the comments.
