Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant has made it clear that he will miss controversial team-mate Dillon Brooks, tweeting a supportive message for the departing player after the Houston Rockets officially announced Brooks' new free agent deal.
Morant, suspended 25 games for conduct detrimental to the NBA, played four seasons alongside Brooks in Memphis. On Sunday, he tweeted three emojis — a sad face, a heart and an infinity symbol — to show his love for the 27-year-old.
The duo embraced villain roles as the Grizzlies rose to Western Conference relevance. Morant caused a stir last year when he said Memphis were "fine in the West" following a question about the upcoming playoffs. He has also faced discipline over multiple incidents involving guns, the latest ban keeping him out of the first few months of the upcoming campaign.
Brooks often trash-talked opponents, including LeBron James, to get under their skin. As a result, opposing fans routinely greeted him with boos.
"I know every single night, guys are thinking about me," said Brooks to The Athletic after signing a reported four-year, $86 million free-agent deal with Houston. "It's in their mind before the game even starts. So I'm not worried about that. It's just one thing you put down as a good accolade and try to keep replicating each and every season. But I'm happy that I made the team."
Brooks takes pride in his defensive contributions, and the Rockets gave him the massive contract in hopes his strong play on that end of the court will inspire team-mates to follow his lead.
"You know, it was like the same type of thing with Memphis," Brooks said of his choice to go to Houston. "A nice young core. I feel like I can make an impact there. And just give my veteran-ness and my defensive love for the game, bring that sense of professionalism and try to change it around."
Brooks added: "I'm just trying to be contagious. I just want to be contagious energy, you know what I'm saying? And I feel like with my veteran presence, my leadership, my energy, it's contagious. And guys play hard and guys want to play on both sides. So I can't wait to have that effect and change it around."
Knowing Brooks would leave, the Grizzlies traded for Marcus Smart, another well-regarded wing defender. Smart wants to befriend Morant and fit a similar mould as Brooks did, perhaps at an even higher level.
It took veteran Tyus Jones and draft assets for Memphis to acquire Smart, so he'll face pressure to perform at a high level.
"I'm excited to start a new journey in my life and in my basketball career, and what better way to than to be in a city where it fits me perfectly?" the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year told ESPN. "Grind City. I'm a grinder; that's what I do.
"I've got to earn these guys' trust. In Boston, I was there. I was the longest-tenured guy. I grew up with those guys. Here, I'm a new face coming in, although I have some experience on me. But as competitors, you see a new guy coming in, guys aren't just going to give me their attention right away. They're going to have to earn it. And that's what I expect to do.
"Ja is a very special player, very special player, and he's very important to the team. For us to do anything great, we're going to need Ja, and we're going to need Ja to be the best he can be. So for me as a competitor, I love to push guys to the limit, especially a guy who's great."
