A Tuesday morning report from The Athletic‘s Shams Charania sent shockwaves across the NBA as the Grizzlies will reportedly not re-sign swingman Dillon Brooks “under any circumstances.”
Brooks, while not a franchise cornerstone, had been a solid contributor for Memphis for six seasons. Nevertheless, his provocations of players around the league, grew to overshadow his production this season. Here’s a comprehensive blow-by-blow look at Brooks’s antics during the 2022–23 season.
January 20
During a dramatic 121–120 Lakers win over the Grizzlies in Los Angeles, Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and Fox Sports personality Shannon Sharpe heckled Memphis players and Brooks in particular. The Grizzlies responded by nearly coming to blows with Sharpe, who indicated that he provoked the exchange by telling Brooks he couldn’t guard Lakers forward LeBron James.
Shannon Sharpe spent halftime in the tunnel with security before returning to his seat for the third quarter. He granted ESPN a brief interview explaining what happened with the Grizzlies on his way to his seat: pic.twitter.com/XZNw6sQhEG
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 21, 2023
February 2
During the Cavaliers‘ 128–113 win over Memphis in Cleveland, Brooks hit Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell in the groin. Mitchell took exception, and both players were eventually ejected.
“That’s just who he is,” Mitchell said postgame.
Brooks was suspended one game without pay for his actions.
March 3
In an ESPN profile by Tim Keown, Brooks unloaded on the Warriors, particularly forward Draymond Green.
“I don’t like Draymond at all,” he said. “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. His game is cool—with Golden State—but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is.”
Later that night, Brooks was assessed his 16th technical foul of the season during a 113–97 Grizzlies loss to the Nuggets in Denver. He was suspended one game for technical foul accumulation, coinciding with guard Ja Morant’s temporary departure from the team after being filmed brandishing a gun in a nightclub on Instagram Live.
March 8
Green responded to Brooks’s comments with a scathing critique on his podcast.
“If you ever wondered why the Memphis Grizzlies are not ready to compete for the championship, look no further than this idiot right here,” Green declared. “The dynasty starts after you, not with you, and that’s just a fact.”
March 9
Memphis beat Golden State, 131–110, at home. Brooks and Green nearly got into an altercation, and after the game, Brooks called Green’s podcast “cute.” Green shut down the idea of a Warriors-Grizzlies rivalry after the game, saying “anybody can win in March … I have a hard time getting out of my bed in March.”
March 15
Brooks shoved a camera operator while fighting for a loose ball during a 138–119 Memphis loss to the Heat, incurring a $35,000 fine.
March 20
In a 112–108 Grizzlies win over the Mavericks, Brooks picked up his 18th technical foul of the season and earned another one-game suspension.
April 11
Brooks told reporters that he “wouldn’t mind playing” Los Angeles and LeBron James in a first-round series.
”The legacy is there. First time back in the playoffs, knock him out right away in the first round,” he said.
April 19
After losing Game 1 of its first-round series, Memphis beat the Lakers, 103–93, in Game 2. Brooks called James “old” postgame, continuing: “I poke bears. I don’t respect anyone until they come and give me 40.” Brooks dismissed James as “just another player” and suggested he would’ve provided more of a challenge during his prime with Miami or the Cavaliers.
April 22
Los Angeles took a 2–1 series lead with a 111–101 win in Game 3. James scored 25 points, pulled down nine rebounds and handed out five assists—while Brooks was ejected for hitting him in the groin. Brooks suggested postgame that his media image was a factor in his ejection.
April 28
The Lakers bulldozed the Grizzlies, 125–85, to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. James outscored Brooks 22–10, and Los Angeles fans threw salt on the wound by taunting Brooks as he walked to Memphis’s team bus.
As a final indignity, Brooks was fined $25,000 by the NBA for neglecting to speak to reporters after Games 3, 4 and 6 of their first-round playoff series.
