Dillon Brooks Says His ‘Villain’ Reputation Isn’t Just About Being a Jerk

Dillon Brooks gets under people’s skin. That’s his job, and he’s good at it. But the Phoenix Suns forward wants to clear something up about the whole “villain” thing.

Brooks sat down with the “Road Trippin’ Show” recently and explained that what looks like just being a pest on the court is actually more calculated than people realize. The guy who averaged a career-best 20.2 points last season while shooting 43.5% from the field isn’t just out there trying to start fights.

“The villain first came out with me just, like, cussing guys out, talking s***, doing controversial hits, elbows, pushes, fights, whatever. But I feel like I evolved it more,” Brooks said. “I think the villain role kind of changed over time when I started taking on, I guess, a lot more leadership role with what the villain really means. It’s not just like an evil, creepy character that’s gonna try to do whatever.”

He’s got a point, even if the antics occasionally cross a line. Brooks entered the league as a second-round pick back in 2017. Nobody handed him anything. He had to carve out a role by being the guy opponents hate sharing a court with. That’s how you survive when you’re not a lottery pick with a guaranteed future.

The 30-year-old says the real purpose behind the trash talk and the hard fouls is strategic. He’s trying to make guys uncomfortable. Get them thinking about him instead of running their offense. And he says it’s also about showing his own teammates they don’t have to back down from anyone.

“I’m using it to kind of show how competitive you can be and it’s okay to be a little outwardly forward or whatever the case may be,” Brooks added. “Get out of your comfort zone in a certain way.”

Brooks isn’t wrong that every contending team needs at least one guy willing to do the dirty work. The Suns apparently agree. They didn’t make any splashy moves this offseason, opting instead to keep the roster mostly intact. That means Brooks will be right back in the middle of things, barking at opponents and absorbing the crowd’s hate on the road.

It’s a role he’s made his own. And whether you love him or hate him — and most people fall into one of those two camps — he’s probably not changing anytime soon.