First came Grayson Allen. Now comes Dillon Brooks.
With Kevin Durant officially traded, the Suns begin their next chapter by welcoming defensive enforcer Dillon Brooks, a player with a controversial past, a productive present, and a potential future as Phoenix’s emotional anchor.
For the second time in recent years, the Phoenix Suns are importing a player with a reputation—one shaped not just by highlight reels or box scores, but by the very way he carries himself on a basketball court. And while Grayson Allen has quickly endeared himself to the Suns faithful with his elite shooting and a maturity-in-growth mindset, Dillon Brooks arrives with a similar reputation and a shot at similar redemption.
Dillon Brooks freely calls himself The Villain; he plays into it, but he’s one of those rugged and competitive guys that you’d rather have on your team than have to go against. We can have no doubt he’ll make games, training camp, and weekly practices more physical and competitive.
Brooks, acquired in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade that also netted the Suns the 10th pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft and five second-rounders, enters a franchise in transition. Phoenix is trying to balance Devin Booker’s prime with competitive roster reshaping. In that delicate dance, Brooks may offer the blend of defense, toughness, and on-court identity they now sorely need. We do well to ask…
Who is Dillon Brooks? What is Dillon Brooks? Why is Dillon Brooks?
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Statistics
Taking a few short-hand notes from Basketball Reference, here is our basic player profile:
Height: 6 Feet 6 Inches (6’6”)
Weight: 225 lbs (102 kg)
Position: Small Forward / Shooting Guard (wing)
Play Style: 3&D
Entering his age-30 season (currently 29 years old), Dillon Brooks has played eight years in the NBA and was a graduate of Oregon, selected 45th overall as the 15th pick in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft.
He has played for the Memphis Grizzlies (6 seasons) and the Houston Rockets (2 seasons), and now joins the Phoenix Suns for the 2025/26 campaign. He is under contract for three more years, having just completed the 1st-year of a new 4-year contract, and will earn $22,255,493.00 for the upcoming season.
2024/25 Regular Season
He has played 73 or more games in each of the last three seasons, and was a starting forward for the #2 seed Houston Rockets last season, averaging 14.0 points on .429% (.397 3PT%, and .818% from FT), 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 stocks per game. He started all 75 games he played in last season.
2024/25 Playoffs
In 7 games (all starts), Dillon Brooks’ numbers dropped off to 12.3 ppg, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 apg, but continually offered great energy and hustle—a Brooks trademark.
Let’s take a deeper look, though, and go below the numbers.
A Better Version in Houston
Let’s talk production, not just persona.
After being deemed “persona non grata” in Memphis — where his on-court antics and public comments wore thin (and was ultimately scapegoated by various reports), to which Memphis could pivot away from the hard-working and rugged player—Brooks signed with the Rockets and promptly reshaped his image. Statistically, it was his most efficient shooting season to date. But it was also his most contained—no unnecessary ejections. Well, almost no unnecessary ones…
However, recent memory may remind you that he was ejected in a Phoenix match-up last season.
Dillon Brooks EJECTED
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 31, 2025
For the most part, Brooks was providing consistent minutes, defensive effort, and clear buy-in. Brooks did what rebuilding teams often ask of veterans: he led by competing, frequently setting the tone defensively for a much-improved Houston squad that jumped from 22 to 41 wins. And this is precisely what we can hope for in Phoenix.
A Star Turn with Team Canada
His 2023 summer campaign was just as compelling. Brooks played a pivotal role in Team Canada’s bronze medal run at the FIBA World Cup, putting up a blistering 39 points on 7-of-8 shooting from three in the third-place game against Team USA.
It was a performance that silenced boos and re-centered the narrative: Dillon Brooks is not just theater. He can play. And he can shine.
His defense on the perimeter and fearless attitude gave Canada an edge in a tournament filled with young stars. For Phoenix, a team that has struggled with perimeter defense and lacked physicality in key moments, that version of Brooks is more than welcome.
A Fit That Might Actually Work
Brooks will not be asked to replicate what Durant provided. And that’s the point.
He slides naturally into a defensive-minded wing role, similar to what Suns fans once loved in Mikal Bridges. Unlike Bridges, Brooks is bulkier, meaner, and more physical, and may unlock something dynamic offensively.
That said, if Phoenix surrounds him with efficient scorers and a structured offensive hierarchy (read: Booker and Beal), Brooks won’t need to hunt shots. He’ll need to hit open ones, take charges, and frustrate opponents.
That’s where he thrives.
If the Suns deploy him alongside Booker and a more-than-functional center rotation, Brooks may end up being the defensive glue they missed throughout the 2024–25 campaign.
The Edge Phoenix Secretly Needed?
Phoenix is in a period of recalibration. With KD now gone, the Suns will likely lean further into two-way players, effort guys, and emotional tone-setters. Brooks, despite his missteps, has demonstrated that he can effectively embody that role. What Phoenix lacked in edge last season, they now have in abundance. And after Grayson Allen reshaped his narrative in the Valley—proving his worth as a knockdown shooter and fierce competitor—there’s now a precedent for Brooks to do the same.
Off the Court & Online
Brooks shares much of his offseason work and national pride on his Instagram (@dillonbrooks24), where he’s active with fans, highlights, and occasional behind-the-scenes glimpses into his workouts and life. He isn’t particularly active on X; however, he has a YouTube channel that may get some more content sooner rather than later, considering this move.
And you’ve gotta love a guy that wants to lean into the Villain role.
Final Word: A Move That Signals Intent
The Suns didn’t just trade Durant. They added identity. Dillon Brooks may never be a perfect player—or a quiet one—but his willingness to defend, to battle, and to challenge opponents might make him the kind of mid-career vet who thrives in a system built around stars.
Phoenix needs more edge. Dillon Brooks has more than enough to share.
Brian Murphy-Imagn Images
Lastly, for a further deep-dive into the player behind the name, check out this informative mini-movie by Cory Cash, “Dillon Brooks: Career Year Behind the Scenes”
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