Credit: Joe Rondone-USA TODAY Sports
After overachieving in the 2021-22 campaign, Dillon Brooks and the Memphis Grizzlies have a lot to be proud of this summer. Still, it can be hard to avoid trolling from the fans.
For Brooks, he found that out for himself first-hand on Monday, when one fan approached him at the airport with an unusual request.
“Hey Dillon… sharing is caring my man. You gotta pass that muthaf**king ball you hear me?”
Apparently, Dillon Brooks has a reputation for being a ball hog, and that fan was just trying to send a message. Whether or not Brooks heard it is something, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Dillon, 26, had the season of his life in the 2021-22 campaign. He averaged a career-high 18.4 points and 2.8 assists per game on 43% shooting.
Of course, Brooks also had the misfortunate of being caught in a very suspicious-looking play, and it has followed him ever since.
“I don’t know if it was intentional, but it was dirty and you know, playoff basketball is supposed to be physical and everyone is going to compete and everyone is going to fight for everything,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr on Brooks’ play. “But there’s a code in this league, there’s a code that players follow. Where you never put a guy’s season or career in jeopardy. Like taking somebody out in midair and clubbing them across the head, and ultimately fracturing Gary’s elbow. You don’t hit a guy when he’s in midair, club him and break his elbow. That’s where the line is.”
The Grizzlies didn’t lose anyone important this summer, but they also failed to make any notable additions, and the development of their young core alone is unlikely to carry them to a Finals appearance.
Really, it will be up to Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks to make or break this next season for Memphis.
