Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks has made a reputation for himself this year for being an agitator toward opposing teams. His actions in Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks will not help things.
Mavericks stars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving were inactive for Monday’s contest while nursing nagging injuries. That didn’t stop Brooks from utterly getting under their skin from the bench.
Brooks hit a three-point shot in the third quarter to give the Grizzlies a 76-65 lead in the third quarter. After making the shot, he blew a kiss to the Mavericks’ bench and crowd.
Dillon Brooks nails the three then blows a kiss to the Mavs' crowd.
Peep Luka's reaction 👀 pic.twitter.com/cWqn45Sesr
— ESPN (@espn) March 14, 2023
Dončić very clearly did not appreciate this, smirking and shaking his head on the bench as Brooks continued celebrating the shot. Many around the NBA world took notice of this moment and offered their opinion on social media.
Dillon Brooks is wrong for this 😅
— The Game Day Hoops (@TheGameDayHoops) March 14, 2023
From the look of it, Luka is gonna put on an all-timer next time he plays the Grizzlies👀
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/qssWkRjIzp
— betr (@betr) March 14, 2023
Luka not impressed… pic.twitter.com/YBVDbjkqIS
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 14, 2023
He's 7-for-18 from the floor, but you're still gonna get these kisses. That's the Dillon Brooks promise. https://t.co/VyGm9j586z
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) March 14, 2023
Luke Doncic when Dillon Brooks blew a kiss to the Dallas crowd 😑
📹: @espn pic.twitter.com/bPjzthrwyJ
— bet365 US (@bet365_us) March 14, 2023
Brooks has not been shy about blasting both Dončić and Irving in recent days. This game was the second of back-to-back games between the two teams. When asked about Dončić’s injury before their first game, Brooks certainly did not mince words about the Mavericks star.
“It goes to show that sometimes they ain’t ready to come back to a physical game,” said Brooks via Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis.
Luka Doncic is out tonight and is listed as day-to-day due to a left thigh strain.
Dillon Brooks on Luka being out today:
“It’s goes to show that sometimes they ain’t ready to come back to a physical game.”
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) March 11, 2023
Brooks also has had a history with Irving and spoke about that before their first game.
“He had a couple of words for me in Brooklyn, so I can’t wait to pick him up full every time and see him get exhausted,” said Brooks via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on hoping that Kyrie played in the game.
Dillon Brooks hopes Kyrie Irving (foot/personal reasons) plays tonight: “Now I can get him by myself today, so I want to see what he’s all about. He had a couple of words for me in Brooklyn, so I can’t wait to pick him up full every time and see him get exhausted.” https://t.co/KpkysdSa0F
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 11, 2023
This is, of course, not the first time that Brooks has upset an NBA star. He has recently had a ton of back-and-forth trash talk with Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, which resulted in a dust-up on the court earlier this month.
Brooks with the swipe and bucket over Draymond 🔒 pic.twitter.com/Hi946xkpHs
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 10, 2023
Brooks has played the heel role perfectly for the Grizzlies, and getting under the other team’s skin may be a great strategy at this point. The Grizzlies got their second straight win over the Mavericks on Monday night.
