An in-depth feature on Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks by Tim Keown of ESPN includes several interesting tidbits, including a detailed look at how Brooks thrives on defense and comments from head coach Taylor Jenkins about how important the 27-year-old is to the team’s culture. However, the spiciest part of the story comes when Brooks discusses one of Memphis’ chief rivals in the Western Conference.
“I don’t like Draymond at all,” Brooks said of Warriors forward Draymond Green. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool — with Golden State — but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.”
According to Keown, Green laughed and declined to comment when asked for the opportunity to respond, but Brooks’ expression of his views on Golden State and the former Defensive Player of the Year figure to add a fun new wrinkle to the next Grizzlies/Warriors matchup.
On a related note, Brooks will have to make an effort to keep his emotions in check on the court during the final weeks of the season. As Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal tweets, the Grizzlies forward received his 15th technical foul of 2022/23 on Wednesday — a 16th would trigger an automatic one-game suspension.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Kings big man Richaun Holmes is suing the Sacramento Bee for defamation, according to Chris Haynes of TNT (Twitter link). The lawsuit alleges that The Bee, in a series of five articles, “intentionally, and maliciously, published claims of child and domestic abuse by Holmes despite easily accessible evidence to the contrary via public court filings.” Oddly, The Bee’s initial story on the domestic abuse accusations – which surfaced during a custody battle that Holmes eventually won – was presented as an opinion column rather than a news report.
- After the team’s fourth consecutive loss on Thursday, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said his club needs to be mentally “tougher,” per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. The Clips have blown double-digit leads in three of their four losses since the All-Star break. “I don’t care about missed shots, it’s going to happen,” Lue said. “You’re going to turn the ball over some, but you can’t give in, and my thing is just having that toughness and that mindset that, ‘OK, things are not going well, then let’s do something about it.'”
- Thunder wing Lindy Waters, who grew up in Norman and played his college ball at Oklahoma State, is thrilled to have signed a standard NBA contract with his hometown team, as Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman writes. “Thankful for a lot of people along the way that helped me to get to where I am,” Waters said. “Very thankful for the organization for giving me a shot, letting me come in and work out and showing they care. But yeah, it’s just been a wild ride.”
Huge Grizzlies fan, but good lord I hate Brooks. How is it even possible to have this little self-awareness?
Brooks is not too bad here. He’s giving Draymond the compliments he deserves with the “playing hard” etc. I really don’t like Draymond Green either but he does what the Warriors need and that’s provide the toughness and all the rest of that intangible stuff teams need. Brooks himself provides the same with the Grizzlies.
Well, I was mostly referring to the fact that he already earned his 16th technical last night.
But it’s also pretty hypocritical to comment that Draymond would be less valuable on other teams when the exact same thing can be said about Brooks himself
I understand. Good points.
Westbrook stats t0night
27 points
FG 12-16
10 assists
0-5
Clippers Westbrooks plays great basketball with zero win
Games remaining
Clippers need 12-4 to be the 6th seed
Lakers need 15-3 to be the 6th seed
How about them KINGS! I can’t wait for the ref blaming because as is tradition it was a LA team and the kings. Had to feel weird for literally everyone involved watching.
It was the Clippers. Not really an LA team and nobody watches their games.
I don’t like Brooks… But he’s right…
Draymond Green would be at best a Pat Bev level player on any other team…
You can’t say that. Green would have changed his game to become better in different areas on the offensive end. Right now he’s a screen Setter and distributor for the shooters. That’s what the Warriors need and have needed to get 4 rings.
If he came up with another team he would be more of an all-around offensive player. You can see when he goes to the hole for layups and his quickness Etc that he could be a lot better offensively if he had worked on it the last 10 years instead of SELFLESSLY feeding Curry and Thompson the last decade, and putting his own offensive stats on the back burner.
Green will decline his option and become a free agent. That will show how valuable he is when other team’s GMs lineup to sign him. Brooks on the other hand is a free agent too but watch how nobody line ups to sign him.
Dillon Brooks and his career -4.5 VORP…
Holmes is atleast right, regardless if its a Holmes comment to the Media that will garner about 10 views on a good day. The media has no class, responsibility, obligation, or self-policing morality to print the truth when the editor orders a lie to be printed, and stops the truth from being printed. Pretty normal & regular practice in the industry from what I can tell.
Holmes is right, but his story of Fraud by the Bee will never be properly explained, and exposed to the media believing public idiots.