The Athletic: Dillon Brooks will give the rebuilding Suns toughness, energy — and perhaps an edge

The Phoenix Suns acquired Dillon Brooks, known for his aggressive and confrontational playing style, in a July 2025 trade with the Houston Rockets. Coaches who have worked with Brooks, such as David McClure and Keith Smart, emphasized that attempting to suppress his intense, "chaotic" nature would diminish his effectiveness as a player. They drew parallels to Manu Ginobili's style and cited coaching wisdom suggesting it's preferable to calm an energetic player than to motivate a passive one.

Brooks, entering his ninth NBA season, was a key part of the Suns' offseason strategy to become bigger, younger, more athletic, and significantly tougher, especially on defense. The article notes that while the Suns have historically had elite scorers and passers, they have lacked true "irritators" like Brooks, whose primary aim is to get inside opponents' heads. Past Suns players known for agitation are mentioned, but none are considered to operate at Brooks' level.

The article details Brooks' reputation, evidenced by his league-leading 49 technical fouls over the previous three regular seasons. These technicals stemmed from various incidents including arguing with officials, defending teammates, taunting opponents, pushing, flopping, and hanging on the rim. Specific examples include an ejection in Phoenix after a confrontation with Kevin Durant and playoff altercations with Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry.

Brooks himself described his style as "no bull—," stating he doesn't back down. He anticipates Suns fans cheering his first technical foul, acknowledging how a uniform change can alter perception of a player often viewed as a villain. Former NBA player and coach Nick Van Exel noted that Brooks' tenacity and on-court presence, born from his defensive intensity and aggressive style, give him a distinct reputation that makes him widely known throughout the league.