In the blink of an eye, Dillon Brooks went from just a simple positive addition from the Kevin Durant trade into an absolute game-changing player who has completely shifted the Phoenix Suns' culture practically over night. In fact, I'm not even sure Suns fans would deal him away for KD straight up right now.
Brooks has completely changed the way this team plays from an effort perspective. Over the course of the last couple of seasons in The Valley, there's been more than a little lackadaisical play and wavering intensity. That all changed when Brooks suited up in a Suns jersey for the first time.
He immediately shifted this team's drive and made them a much more physical, hard-nosed and mentally tough group. Of course, if you've followed Dillon's career from Memphis to Houston and now Phoenix, this should be anything but a surprise. He's proving once again that he's a gigantic floor-raiser and culture changer, and he's still not getting enough credit for what he's doing this season.
The impact shows up in areas that don't usually get highlighted. Phoenix is defending with more purpose and competing on the glass in ways that were far more inconsistent in previous seasons. Brooks has a way of dragging teammates into the fight, whether they like it or not. When intensity slips, he's the first guy to call it out and the last to back down.
Dillon Brooks has changed the entire identity of the Phoenix Suns
His presence has also simplified a lot of things offensively. Brooks keeps it simple: he takes open shots, attacks mismatches, and keeps the ball moving. That's helped the Suns look more connected because they're playing with clearer roles and more urgency.
And that's precisely what this team needed in the wake of the Durant and Bradley Beal era. This is a roster built to win now, but winning now still requires effort on a nightly basis. Talent alone has not been enough in recent years, and Brooks has injected a sense of accountability that was missing.
This is also why the idea of moving him again feels almost unthinkable. The Suns have learned firsthand how fragile chemistry can be. Brooks has become a tone-setter, not just another rotation piece. And at the end of the day, those kind of players are rare.
Phoenix didn't just acquire toughness in that trade with Houston. They acquired a new identity, and that wound up being the most valuable part of the deal. Dillon Brooks is a special player, and it's becoming impossible to deny.