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Dillon Brooks rarely filters how he sees himself, or anyone else around him. That edge has followed him throughout his first season with the Phoenix Suns, where he has continued to embrace the role of tone-setter while leaning on the same defensive identity that shaped his reputation across the league.
That mindset showed again during his appearance on Million Dollaz Worth of Game, when Brooks reacted to a list of NBA top-50 players ranked ahead of him and delivered blunt answers almost every step of the way, Yahoo reports.
His strongest comments came quickly. When Joel Embiid’s name appeared, Brooks dismissed the ranking by saying, “No, he’s too hurt, you can probably go to sleep for a straight week and he’s probably hurt again.”
He had little patience for Austin Reaves either, calling the Lakers guard “a foul baiter,” before brushing aside several other names with short responses, including Josh Giddey, Rudy Gobert, Chet Holmgren, Scottie Barnes, and De’Aaron Fox.
LeBron James also drew one of Brooks’ sharpest responses.
“He ain’t having a better year than me,” Brooks said.
That same tone continued when Paolo Banchero came up. Brooks argued the Orlando Magic star should have reached another level by now.
“Down year for Paolo, could be way better, he’s supposed be LeBron status,” Brooks said.
Brooks Balances Criticism With Select Respect
Not every answer carried the same bite.
Brooks gave Brandon Ingram strong praise, saying, “I rate his game all the way,” while calling Karl-Anthony Towns “sweet” and describing Bam Adebayo as someone he enjoys competing against.
He also backed Desmond Bane, Amen Thompson, and James Harden with noticeably more respect than several others on the list.
When Cooper Flagg’s name surfaced, Brooks acknowledged the rookie talent but still made sure to frame the comparison through his own lens.
“I rate him, not a better year than me because if I was with the Mavs would be in the playoff hunt,” Brooks said.
That line reflected the same competitive lens Brooks applied throughout the interview, where nearly every ranking turned into a self-measurement rather than a detached opinion.
James Harden Comments Reveal Defensive Mindset
Brooks expanded most when Harden came up.
“I can guard James. That’s life. No, he doesn’t want no physicality. All he wants to do is go left. Like he’s like a 90 percent better basketball player going left than right. I know the step back’s coming, I know the foul bait, throwing his arms into you is coming. And when he gets to his right hand, he wants to just pass the ball,” Brooks said.
That breakdown fit Brooks’ long-standing identity as a defender who studies tendencies and leans into physical matchups.
Still, Harden’s history against Brooks suggests the challenge remains difficult even when Brooks feels confident. According to StatMuse, Harden has averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists against Brooks’ teams while winning nine of 15 matchups.
Brooks also entered the weekend with off-court attention surrounding him. ESPN’s Michael C. Wright reported that Scottsdale police arrested Brooks early Friday morning after a traffic stop. Officers released him roughly two and a half hours later after booking him on a marijuana-related DUI matter, despite him passing a breathalyzer test.
Burtland Dixon Burtland Dixon is a sports journalist covering the NBA and athlete culture for Heavy.com. A former Division II athlete turned journalist, he offers a unique blend of locker room perspective and storytelling expertise. He has more than eight years of experience in digital media and previously served as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with additional bylines at Idolator, Trend Chaser, and Buzznet. Burtland is based between California and New York. Instagram: @showmi_more More about Burtland Dixon
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