The Phoenix Suns officially began training camp on Tuesday, with veteran leader Dillon Brooks immediately singling out rookie Koa Peat as a player he is looking to mentor this season.
Brooks wants to help Peat come out of his shell in Phoenix
The always excellent Kellan Olson of Arizona Sports was in the building as training camp opened, with Brooks revealing that Peat is the player he is targeting to help grow and become more vocal this season. You might remember he did the same with Oso Ighodaro last season, and that worked out pretty well for all involved, as the springy forward finally found a role in The Valley.
Dillon Brooks’ target this year?
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) September 29, 2026
Koa Peat.
Brooks said he’s made some progress but described Peat as a little shy and he looks forward to breaking that wall down. https://t.co/nmotTlyihK
Brooks quickly assumed the role of emotional leader of this group after joining from the Houston Rockets, and small actions like this are exactly what he brings every day to help the Suns build chemistry and win games. This does not show up in the box score, is misunderstood by many, and is the reason being called the 76th-best player in the league by ESPN is laughable.
Franchise cornerstone Devin Booker has always taken a less vocal approach. Working out with Khaman Maluach after the youngster reached out this summer is his way of connecting with his teammates.
There is a place for that kind of quiet leadership, but Brooks telling the media from the jump that he will be attempting to get the best out of Peat is exactly what the Suns need if they want the rookie to contribute sooner rather than later. If he can quickly gain confidence working with Brooks, his Aaron Gordon-like game could unlock exciting new lineups for this group, particularly on the defensive end.
Brooks continues to prove his value by helping others
You might remember Brooks needing stitches after competing in a scrimmage before the season began last time out, while also christening Collin Gillespie "Villain Jr." as the point guard went on to have a career year. The early days of training camp are when he begins to work his magic with his new and younger teammates, and Peat is going to be the latest to benefit from this kind of leadership.
If he can push Bridges for some of his minutes before Christmas, it will be a huge boost for the organization and add to their impressive depth. Brooks will deserve a lot of credit for helping to make that happen, and it started on day one of camp.
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