Dillon Brooks has become a fan favorite among Grizzlies faithful for his fearless attitude and the competitive edge he plays with on the court.
While all the spotlight often resides on the thrilling performances of Ja Morant, Brooks is one of the franchise’s best perimeter defenders and has become known as a needler, constantly getting under the skin of opposing stars.
Brooks also doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind off the court, especially when it comes to the defending champion Warriors. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Tim Keown, the Grizzlies wing shared his disdain for the franchise and, more specifically, Golden State forward Draymond Green.
“I don't like Draymond [Green] at all,” Brooks said in the interview. “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.”
Brooks’s history with the Warriors is a heated one. During the second round of the 2022 NBA playoffs, Brooks received a flagrant foul for a hard blow to Warriors guard Gary Payton II, one that left Payton injured with a fractured elbow and sidelined for 10 games in the playoffs.
Then, earlier this season on Christmas, the rivalry continued with a great deal of trash talk between Green and Klay Thompson and Brooks on the court in the Warriors’ 123–109 victory. Although Golden State has gotten the best of the Grizzlies—despite Morant previously saying he and his teammates were “fine” among Western Conference competition—Brooks contends that Green is a product of the Warriors’ system that has earned them four titles.
“His game is cool—with Golden State—but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is,” Brooks said in the interview. “He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.”
Currently, the Grizzlies (38–23) are No. 2 in the Western Conference and five games behind the Nuggets for the top spot. Golden State (33–30) sit at No. 5 in the conference, six games behind Memphis and 11 behind Denver.
But as the race for the NBA playoffs heats up, the two teams will face each other twice this month—March 9 and March 18—in Memphis. Brooks surely will have plenty to say once again.
