Magic Big Man Wendell Carter Jr. Defends 'Great Player' Dillon Brooks

ORLANDO - Memphis Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks has been the subject of a lot of criticism as of late.

The Grizzlies were knocked out of the playoffs prematurely in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers despite being the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Many were quick to blame Brooks for the team's woes after he was ejected in Game 3 for a below-the-belt hit on LeBron James.

After the series, The Athletic reported that Brooks would not return to the team "under any circumstances," which gathered a lot of negative attention towards the sixth-year pro. However, Orlando Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. came to Brooks' defense.

"I think Dillon Brooks is a great person and a great player," Carter Jr. said via TMZ Sports. "A lot of people like to make their narratives about a lot of players from whatever they may do, which I don't think is fair. But I feel like he's a great player."

Even though Brooks' tenure with the Grizzlies ended poorly and in bad taste, he has the potential to be one of the best defensive wings in the NBA. On top of that, he has proven to be a capable offensive player. During his six seasons with the Grizzlies, Brooks averaged 14.5 points per game while shooting 34.5 percent from distance.

As long as one team feels the same way Carter does, Brooks should have a fresh start with a new organization next season.

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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