Dillon Brooks has never shied away from playing the villain on the basketball court.
Now, the Mississauga native has another title to add to his résumé: one of the richest professional athletes ever to come out of the city.
The 30-year-old Phoenix Suns forward has agreed to a three-year, US$73-million contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2029-30 NBA season. The fully guaranteed deal comes after the best offensive season of Brooks’ career and will push his total career earnings to more than US$200 million by the time the contract expires.
That places Brooks among the highest-paid athletes ever produced by Mississauga, alongside fellow NBA star RJ Barrett, who signed a five-year, US$120-million contract extension with the New York Knicks in 2022.
Dillion Brooks of the Phoenix Suns (NBA.com photo)
Born and raised in Mississauga, Brooks developed into one of Canada’s top basketball prospects before attending Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in Toronto and later starring at the University of Oregon. He led the Ducks to the NCAA Final Four in 2017 and was named Pac-12 Player of the Year before being selected 45th overall in the NBA Draft.
Although drafted by the Houston Rockets, Brooks was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night, where he quickly established himself as one of the league’s toughest perimeter defenders. He spent six seasons in Memphis, earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honours in 2023 while helping define the Grizzlies’ physical style of play.
His reputation only grew after signing a four-year, US$86-million contract with the Houston Rockets in 2023. Two seasons later, he was dealt to Phoenix as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston.
In Phoenix, Brooks enjoyed a breakout season.
The 6-foot-7 forward averaged a career-best 20.2 points per game while continuing to serve as one of the NBA’s premier defensive specialists. His physical style and willingness to challenge the league’s biggest stars have earned him the nickname “The Villain,” a persona Brooks has openly embraced throughout his career.
Phoenix’s defence also made a dramatic leap during his first season with the club, climbing from near the bottom of the NBA rankings to one of the league’s better defensive teams. Brooks played a major role in that turnaround, while helping the Suns return to the playoffs.
The new extension is worth an average of roughly US$24.3 million per season and reflects how valuable Brooks has become to the franchise.
Brooks has also become one of Canada’s most recognizable basketball players internationally.
He helped lead Canada to a historic bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, scoring 39 points in the medal game against the United States to secure Canada’s first-ever podium finish at the tournament.
His career hasn’t been without controversy. Brooks is one of the NBA’s most polarizing players, known for his relentless defence, frequent trash talk and willingness to challenge superstars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Earlier this year, he also made headlines after being arrested in Arizona on suspicion of driving under the influence before being released.
Despite the attention surrounding his on- and off-court persona, Brooks’ latest contract confirms what NBA executives have long believed: his competitiveness and defensive intensity remain among the league’s most valuable commodities.
For Mississauga, it also cements Brooks’ place as one of the city’s greatest sporting success stories and now one of its wealthiest.
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