An altercation between Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks resulted in both players being ejected from Thursday night’s game in Cleveland and prompted Mitchell to take aim at Brooks in a post-game press conference.
Following a drive to the basket, Brooks ended up on the floor as Mitchell grabbed the rebound. As he rolled over, Brooks hit Mitchell below the belt with his forearm, which the Cavs star viewed as intentional rather than inadvertent. Mitchell immediately threw the basketball at Brooks and shoved him, which resulted in players and coaches from both teams joining the fray to separate the two (Twitter video link via TSN.ca).
After the game, Mitchell suggested to reporters, including Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, that Brooks should be called out for a history of questionable on-court behavior.
“That’s just who he is,” Mitchell said. “We have seen it a bunch in this league with him. Him and I have had our personal battles for years. Quite frankly, I’ve been busting his ass for years. Playoffs. Regular season. And the one game he does an alright job on me today, he decides to do something like that. No place for that in the game. Gotta protect yourself. This has been brewing for years. With me. With other guys in the league. You all see it. This isn’t new. Tonight was just the end of it.
“… Tough when you can’t guard somebody and can’t do something with somebody, you have to resort to that. I’m not typically someone who gets ejected for stuff like that. But at the end of the day, I think my reaction was reacting to a cheap shot. If punishment doesn’t come from that, he’s just going to keep doing it. It’s just dumb to be honest with you and I’m going to appeal it because I don’t think I should’ve gotten ejected for defending myself.”
It’s fair to assume that both players will at least be fined for the incident, and suspensions aren’t out of the question either. Asked what sort of punishment might be appropriate for Brooks, Mitchell declined to offer any specific ideas, but said “it should be something.”
“It’s complete bulls–t. They talk s–t and that’s fine. That’s all part of basketball,” Mitchell said. “We all grew up playing that way. But when you start doing little cheap s–t like that, that ain’t it.
“… The NBA has to do something about it. I’m not the only person this has happened to and there’s no place for that in this game. I took matters into my own hands. When you have a cheap shot like that, there was no need to do that.”
Mitchell’s backcourt mates Ricky Rubio and Darius Garland both referred to Brooks’ play as “dirty,” Fedor notes.
For his part, Brooks declined to address the altercation in any detail after the game, per ESPN, with teammate Ja Morant stepping in to say the Grizzlies wouldn’t be discussing it. Morant did say he feels as if the Grizzlies’ reputation as trash talkers have made the team as an easy target for criticism.
“Anything when it comes to negative about the Grizzlies, we normally, you know, get the punishment,” Morant said. “It ain’t the same. They (the NBA) hate us.”
Yea I can understand Mitchell being upset over it. The way Brooks swung back his arm looked intention.
That shot could definitely ruin Mitchell’s weekend.
On top of what’s mentioned here, Mitchell has a groin injury right now that he’s playing through. So Brooks didn’t just aim for his nads, he aimed for an injury. Minimum one game suspension should be unquestionable.
He broke the code. Ask Gary Payton and the Warriors what they think of Brooks. Memphis has the talent, players to go all the way. But they talk & talk, play dirty, and have no heart. They won’t get past the Nuggets in the West. Brooks should be suspended 10 games. See what would happen if someone took a cheap shot at work and hit you in the balls.
“See what would happen if someone took a cheap shot at work and hit you in the balls”
I’m going to test this out today. Wish me luck
I heard Brooks bf dumped him after making a move on Mitchell.
Is that really Brook’s boyfriend?
Mitchell should not be in trouble. Brooks should be taken out of the nba. Get rid of the person who is the issue. Not the one who reacts to an issue.
Brooks is a no talent POS – just a hack who has been getting away with assault for years.
Ja really went there “the league hates us”. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and if you can’t handle the weight before it’s even on. Good luck to you.
Memphis is a dirty team and the coach is the problem too since he defends the dirty plays. Brooks plays dirty against every team and when fouls a player plays the victim card he never fouls anyone.
Same thing with Golden State, my only knock on Kerr is he’s defended Green’s and Bogut’s actions over the years and he’s not the only one. Pops with Bruce Bowen, Jackson with Rodman and Daly with Laimbeer.
Kerr, Jackson, Pops and Daly are four of the greatest coaches in NBA history and all have that same blemish. All four defended dirty players and Jackson, Pops and Daly even went as far as to encourage their behavior.
Not even close. Green been in check since his nut buster in the playoffs. Bogut was not on purpose on Leonard. I seen dirtier plays on Curry over the years. just because you have hate for GSW don’t means you need to make up stories. What will be your excuse if Green is on your favorite team next year?
Green has been in check? He took a cheap shot on Clarke then punched his own teammate.
I don’t hate the Warriors though I strongly dislike Draymond, I in fact I love to watch the Warriors. They play a simply beautiful style of basketball. Curry and Thompson are simply a joy to watch. I said Kerr had one blemish, outside of that I think he’s one of the top 2 active coaches in the league.
Brooks knew it was a cheap shot to Mitchell’s groinall area as he sulked off the court. Morant is becoming irritating with his smack talk in my opinion.
Also, you can tell that this was a cheap shot because no Memphis fans are in these comments defending him. Or anywhere else for that matter. They know he’s dirty like a used diaper.
The real shame in this matter is how the Grizzlies are becoming unlikeable as a team. Morant is probably the most electrifying superstar to watch. Their core is mostly all homegrown talent. There’s so many reasons to love and root for this team. But now with all this stupid behavior it’s becoming hard to. Morant saying the Grizzlies won’t talk about this and blaming it on them being a target for trash talk? No, stop.
Couldn’t have said it better.. a damn shame
Too much talking these days, and not enough action. There is a section titled “fighting words” in the American Constitution.
As it turns out, sticks & stones do break your bones under the Law & Under God, so if you wanna act like an ass, go ahead, but history tells us thats futile, and ends badly.
There are lots of low-character personalities running the NBA, its normally not the players, but Brooks is pushing the line of decency for sure.
Brooks’ behavior on that play was over the top, and I don’t even think the punch to groin was the worst part of it, although I wasn’t the one hit. This is NOT like a hard foul even if to the head area. This had no basketball purpose, it was an assault that just happened to occur on basketball court. Silver needs to put away his NBA dictionary, and get out the penal code, if only to understand that this requires a different level of punishment.
Penal code, I see what you did there.
Are you sure you didn’t do most of it on your own?
Should have clocked him. Ham straight it was intentional. Next time they play DM is going for 50.
“They hate us”
Yeah, because you’re a dirty team who doesn’t play by the rules and likes to hit people in the balls.
Wasn’t just the hit rolling around the court after a play is a good way to trip and injury guys also
As a repeat offender with a well-deserved reputation, the NBA should give Brooks a more significant suspension on the order of 5+ games (personally, I’d go for a dozen to send a clear message).
Do they have the balls to? No, no they don’t.
Mitchell is way too soft and he ain’t half as good as he thinks he is… but… alas folks seem to like and pamper him! SMH!
Literally dropped 71
If you watch the video. You can see Dillon falling to ground. Seeing Mitchell there. So as he falls, turns he SWINGS back at Mitchell. Absolutely and no doubt it was intentional. No place for that in NBA.