On the basketball court, Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks is a menacing figure. In each matchup, his goal is to get inside the head of his opponents while making them dislike him.
Last week, he took time out of his pregame warmup to stare across the court at Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. It was a gesture to let him know that despite their history, he was not shying away from his self-proclaimed nickname of “Dillon the Villain.”
Yet, away from the court, Brooks is a quiet, peaceful person who loves to give back to the community and help the less fortunate, as he displayed on Wednesday by hosting and catering a Thanksgiving meal for 150 families at the Fort Bend Boys & Girls Club.
“It is very important,” Brooks said when asked about showing fans his other side. “It is not all the ‘rah-rah-rah’ basketball player. It is the giving, more down-to-earth Dillon who loves to give back and wants to really get to know Houston and Houston nation.”
In answering questions, Brooks glanced at all the families in attendance and reminisced about being in a similar situation growing up. Brooks’ inspiration for playing professional basketball and giving back to the community is from former NBA player Jamaal Magloire.
“The giving, more down to earth Dillon,” said Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks when I asked about about people seeing the other side of him as he hosted the Thanksgiving event at the Boys & Girls Club. #Rockets #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/FIPF0zfIZZ
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) November 16, 2023
“I just remember I used to have a picture of him growing up,” Brooks said Wednesday afternoon. “He gave me the idea of wanting to be a basketball player and to strive for something more.”
“I feel like I came from the same thing, lived around the same people,” Brooks concluded. “Helping kids with anything. Being there as a role model, having their back, always visiting. Just showing who I am throughout the community and what I am about.”
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks received some words of encouragement from one of the young ladies who is a member of the Boys & Girls Club, “Good luck on winning the NBA Championship.” Brooks is catering a Thanksgiving meal for 150 families. #Rockets #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/BVfeHjIsln
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) November 16, 2023
