Amid the recent turmoil surrounding the Grizzlies, one of the popular suggestions for the team among analysts and pundits has been to add a veteran voice to the locker room for the stretch run.
However, Dillon Brooks doesn’t agree.
Brooks, one of the most outspoken leaders in the Grizzlies’ locker room, scoffed at the idea of Memphis signing a veteran for the stretch run after Thursday’s 131–110 win over the Warriors. He also roped in two former NBA greats—Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony—in his response seemingly as examples of players that wouldn’t serve the intended veteran purpose that many believe the Grizzlies need.
“Who do you want to sign? You wanna sign Carmelo Anthony? You wanna sign Dwight Howard? Who do you want to sign?” Brooks answered. “Those guys are trying get back into the league. They're not trying to hone in on a guy and be a vet. A real vet is like Udonis Haslem. A guy who is strictly for the team.”
Howard, an eight-time All-Star from 2007 to ‘14, last played in the NBA last season with the Lakers and has gone onto find success in Taiwan with the Taoyuan Leopards. Anthony, a 10-time All-Star in his own right, also spent time with the Lakers last year but has been without a team throughout the 2022–23 campaign.
Both players, who are in their late 30s, have been outspoken about hoping to find their way back into the NBA.
Calls for leadership in Memphis have increased this week amid Ja Morant’s absence from the team following an Instagram Live video in which the two-time All-Star appeared to brandish a gun while at a Colorado nightclub. The Grizzlies, who initially said the 23-year-old would miss at least two games, announced Wednesday that Morant will remain away from the team for at least four additional games.
Memphis (39–26) is currently tied with the Kings for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference with 17 regular season games remaining.
