Someone who plays the villain role in the NBA extremely well is Phoenix Suns wing Dillon Brooks, especially when he is matched up with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Brooks has had some battles with James and the Lakers in both the regular and postseason over the years, and it appears he has issues with other members on the team too like Jarred Vanderbilt.
“I’m going to throw a shot. I can’t even lie. This guy doesn’t even like me, to be honest with you, but who cares. Jared Vanderbilt,” Brooks said when asked by content creator Ray who the dumbest player in the NBA is. “On the Lakers… They call him Vando. Lefty… He’s like a rebounder, can’t shoot, defense… I just think he’s got way more potential he’s not untapping.”
This is a textbook comment from Brooks as he took an unnecessary shot at Vanderbilt, but he also praised the Lakers wing in a way by saying he has untapped potential as a player.
Vanderbilt has been the Lakers’ enforcer in recent years, never afraid to mix it up with his opponents or the referees when he is on the court. He and Brooks have gone back-and-forth a handful of times, and that will likely now continue next season after these comments from the Suns wing.
One thing that is for sure is Brooks clearly isn’t gonna stop speaking his mind, especially when it comes to the Lakers and their players. Both the Lakers and Suns were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder this postseason, but these type of rivalries are what make the NBA so great and worth watching over the course of an 83-game season.
Dillon Brooks: It’s been a pleasure to battle LeBron James
Even though Brooks has been antagonizing James for years, he has actually enjoyed their battles.
“I don’t think it’s his last year,” Suns forward Dillon Brooks, who was in attendance, told Yahoo Sports. “I think he got one more in him. I watched him when I was in the NBA, when I was a kid in high school. He’s got a phenomenal career and battled everybody and done it at a high level throughout. It’s been amazing to watch overall, a pleasure to battle against him.”
If James returns for another season in the NBA, there surely will be some more battles with Brooks.
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