Asked to find a new team at the end of his contract with Memphis in three weeks, Dillon Brooks has been in the spotlight for his often borderline behavior, at the end of a season punctuated by many slippages and concluded by a Disastrous “trashtalking” against LeBron James in the playoffs.
We remember in particular this clash with Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland which had almost triggered a general fight, in front of the eyes of his former coach, JB Bickerstaff.
Despite this new assumed label of “Bad Boy”, JB Bickerstaff wanted to defend him. Today coach of the Cavaliers, the latter attended the first steps of Dillon Brooks during his first two seasons in the NBA, from 2017 to 2019, and remembers a player endowed with unfailing determination.
A reunion in Cleveland?
“I had a great time with Dillon. One of the things that made Dillon special was this revengeful side he had in him. That’s why he was able to surpass his goals and become the player he is today, who has made his mark in the NBA.”, he told “The Run It Back” podcast.
If it was not until 2019/20 that Dillon Brooks became a major part of the Memphis system, JB Bickerstaff had already detected in him great defensive potential, motivated by this desire to win.
“He is a defender with a strong character. He is a guy who is very quickly adopted by his teammates. He’s also a guy who’s going to come in to do the dirty work, that sort of thing. I would refrain from commenting on the things that have been said about him. All I can talk about is the time I spent with him. And I can say that I saw him tearing himself apart every day to become a better player, to challenge guys in defense..
Statements that will count for Dillon Brooks, who will now have to find a new challenge to bounce back in the NBA after six years in Memphis. Maybe in Cleveland, looking for reinforcements on the wings…
| Dillon Brooks | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | SAME | 82 | 29 | 44.0 | 35.6 | 74.7 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 11.0 |
| 2018-19 | SAME | 18 | 18 | 40.2 | 37.5 | 73.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 7.5 |
| 2019-20 | SAME | 73 | 29 | 40.7 | 35.8 | 80.8 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 16.2 |
| 2020-21 | SAME | 67 | 30 | 41.9 | 34.4 | 81.5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 17.2 |
| 2021-22 | SAME | 32 | 28 | 43.2 | 30.9 | 84.9 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 18.4 |
| 2022-23 | SAME | 73 | 30 | 39.6 | 32.6 | 77.9 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 14.3 |
| Total | 345 | 29 | 41.6 | 34.2 | 79.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 14.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
