I’ve shared my displeasure for Dillon Brooks many times already. I just absolutely cannot stand his smack talk and dirty play.
But during the FIBA World Cup this year, he hasn’t been so talkative. And when he does talk, it’s just on the hardwood.
I think it’s because Brooks has been solely focusing on basketball and as a result, he’s been clutch for Team Canada.
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He plays hard defence and has been pressuring all of the other teams’ superstars, forcing them to make mistakes and commit turnovers (he averaged 1.3 steals in 6 games).
One of them was Slovenia’s Luka Doncic, who he annoyed and frustrated so much that he got the superstar to commit two technical fouls and ejected from the game.
“There's a lot of emotions. A lot of times I don't control myself, which I've been having problems with,” Doncic told reporters after Slovenia lost to Canada 89-100.
"I think Dillon [Brooks] played great. He was very physical like he always does. A lot of people don't like him but I respect him for what he does and he does that stuff really good."
Team Canada is making history this year in part because of their defence and Brooks has been leading the charge on that end of the court.
And that’s why I’m currently a fan of his.
But once the NBA season starts in a few weeks, and he’s repping the red and white for the Houston Rockets and taking his smack talk off of the hardwood, I’ll be booing him again.
But for now, it’s, “Let’s go Team Canada!” and “Lock him up, Brooks!”
(Yeah, I’m one of those sports fans.)
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