Dillon Brooks has been with the Phoenix Suns for less than a year, but it's felt like he's been around for way longer than that. Speaking of, he wants to be around for a lot longer, as in the 30-year-old wants to retire with the organization. He said so himself in his piece for The Players' Tribune:
"Phoenix is my spot. I want to set the culture here for 20 years. I want to retire a Sun."
He admitted that he didn't know after the trade that Phoenix would be the "perfect fit" for him, and that's understandable. There were a lot of unknowns, but what Brooks knew was that he wasn't going to play a team destined for the lottery. He wanted to win.
Brooks is averaging a career-best 20.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 43.7% shooting from the field on a career-high 17.2 attempts.
With less than a week remaining in the regular season, Phoenix sits No. 7 in the West with a 43-35 record. If it weren't for injuries, including to Brooks, who missed over a month, the Suns could be sitting in the top six right now.
They've won far more games than most expected. This was supposed to be a team that would've been lucky to finish 10th in the West, but Brooks didn't get that memo. It's a good thing he didn't.
Dillon Brooks wants to retire with the Suns
After how the past few years went in the desert, between the failed Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant trades, watching this season's team has been a breath of fresh air.
They're tough, they're gritty, and, most importantly, they fight.
You can use all of those words to describe Brooks, who said the highest compliment that a basketball player can receive is when someone wants you on their team, so they don't have to play against you.
Well, while that's true for the Suns, it's not just that. What he's brought on and off the court is unmatched. He's their secondary scorer and brings a level of energy on defense that was previously nonexistent in Phoenix. Brooks is more than his antics, although it sure is fun to watch him get into the minds of opponents.
This time last year, Suns fans had been over the season for weeks (and months). They didn't have postseason basketball to look forward to, but this year, they do. And as Brooks said, Phoenix isn't a team you want to run into. He's helped set the culture, and hopefully, will continue to do so in the years to come.