Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks Calls Out Golden State Warriors And Draymond Green
“I don't think they've accomplished enough yet to consider it a rivalry.” This is what Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said on his podcast back in January in regards to the matchups his team has against the Memphis Grizzlies.
For years now, the Grizzlies have been a young, growing team in the Western Conference and once again, they find themselves near the top of the conference standings. Superstar guard Ja Morant is the face of the franchise, but Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. also play important roles for this organization, as does Dillon Brooks out on the wing.
Playing in tight games against the Warriors recently, including their playoff series last year, the Grizzlies view this matchup as a rivalry, but the same cannot be said for the Warriors. As for Brooks, he and Draymond have gone at it quite a bit on the floor in recent years and there is no love lost between the two.
“I don't like Draymond at all,” Brooks told ESPN. I just don't like Golden State. I don't like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool -- with Golden State -- but if you put him anywhere else, you're not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that's why they like him over there.”
That is quite the statement from Dillon Brooks, especially given everything Draymond Green has achieved over his now 11-year career with the Warriors. A four-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, seven-time All-Defensive team recognition and the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, amongst other achievements, Green is well on his way to being in the Hall-of-Fame one day.
Obviously it is clear in Brooks’ words that he does not like Green whatsoever, but he is just adding more fuel to the fire for when these two teams meet back up in Memphis on March 9. While Golden State may not consider this a rivalry with the Grizzlies, the Warriors will certainly play with a little extra fire when they take on Memphis, especially after these comments about Draymond and the team.
Dillon Brooks, a standout at the University of Oregon, entered the league in 2017 and he instantly made his presence felt as a traditional “3-and-D” player on the wing. As he has become more accustomed to the NBA level though, Brooks has turned himself into a hard-nosed defender that does not back down to anyone on the floor regardless of their size or skill level.
While the Grizzlies and their fans love the effort and intensity Brooks brings every single night, the same cannot be said for everyone else around the league, as Dillon Brooks has found himself a part of multiple scuffles and in-game arguments this season.
There is no easy way to play against Brooks, as he goes out of his way to bump his opponents and try to break them down both physically and mentally. In terms of fouling, well, you better be ready for a hard foul if you are going against him!
This has caused a lot of players around the league to label Dillon Brooks as a dirty player and he is beginning to develop a reputation because of his antics.
“I want them to be angry, off-kilter emotionally,” Brooks went on to tell ESPN. “With some guys there's fear, 100 percent. They don't want to talk to me or even look at me.”
Picking up technical fouls and flagrant fouls is a part of Dillon Brooks’ game and whether you like this style of play or not, he really does not care. Four quarters and 48 minutes is what decides the winner of a basketball game, but for Dillon Brooks, these 48 minutes are nothing short of a street fight that he always tries to win.
Be sure to catch up on the newest episode of The Fast Break Podcast hosted by Fastbreak's own Brett Siegel!
Streaming on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, The Fast Break Podcast takes you inside the league with the latest news, intel, rumors and interviews from those close to the action for all 30 teams. Be on the lookout for a new episodes every Friday.
