The Houston Rockets faced off against the Indiana Pacers Tuesday in their first preseason game of the year. And it didn’t take long for newly-signed Rockets forward Dillon Brooks to once again find himself at the center of controversy.
Brooks was signed by Houston this offseason after the Memphis Grizzlies decided to cut him. Brooks had some offensive struggles which played a role in being cut by Memphis, but another factor was the drama surrounding him last season.
That drama specifically stemmed from Brooks attempting to trash-talk the majority of star players in the league last season, including LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Luka Donćic, and Klay Thompson just to name a few.
It became a distracting storyline throughout the Grizzlies’ postseason run last year, and the team ultimately decided that his skills on the court didn’t outweigh the controversy he brought to the team .
The 2023-24 season for Brooks didn’t get off to the best start for those hoping for Brooks to stay away from the drama.
He was ejected from Tuesday’s game in the first quarter after receiving a flagrant 2 foul for hitting Pacers center Daniel Theis below the belt while attempting to fight through a screen.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1711903689391124576
Given his reputation, fans weren’t exactly shocked that it didn’t take long for him to be ejected from a game.
Dillon Brooks was ejected just 5 minutes into his preseason debut with the Rockets after hitting Daniel Theis below the belt on this play 😬pic.twitter.com/df7BWUVor6
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 11, 2023
Dillon Brooks wasting no time 😭
He was just ejected for this play 5 minutes into the game. pic.twitter.com/JNmzC2dq2c
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) October 11, 2023
https://twitter.com/UpThaDraco/status/1711907444157268391
Dillon Brooks getting ejected in the first few minutes proves he's in midseason form 🤣 pic.twitter.com/wCE4SQj9CA
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) October 11, 2023
Dillon Brooks already getting ejected 🙃
pic.twitter.com/G1824kGnAH— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) October 11, 2023
Dillon Brooks just set a record for fastest ejection on a new team
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) October 11, 2023
It seems pretty clear that Brooks did indeed hit Theis below the belt with his fist, a clear call that will largely get called regularly in the regular season as well.
It’s obviously the preseason, so everyone is trying to get their game together before the start of the year. However, Brooks seems to be in midseason form at the center of controversy yet again.
