The Phoenix Suns were brought crashing back down to earth in their first game after the All-Star break, as they were humbled 121-94 by the San Antonio Spurs.
A defeat which saw them both lose Devin Booker and Grayson Allen to injury, while their role players also failed to play to the level we have grown accustomed to.
Oso Ighodaro makes ridiculous Dillon Brooks technical fouls promise
In the aftermath of the game, second year forward Oso Ighodaro spoke to the media and to his credit did not make excuses for the loss.
Despite seeing two guys go down, and with Dillon Brooks also suspended, the 23-year-old still believes the Suns have more than enough talent to be competitive in every game.
Ighodaro followed that up with an outlandish take, as he claimed that the team have spoken to Brooks and he can promise he won't get another technical foul for the rest of the campaign.
"We have more than enough to win games."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 20, 2026
Oso Ighodaro on injuries.
On hit to nose in Suns loss to Spurs: "Both sides were bleeding. My mouth was bleeding. It was a whole mess."
On Dillon Brooks with 16 techs: "He's good. He's not going get anymore techs. We already talked to… pic.twitter.com/WmtaPibuQC
That seems highly unlikely to happen, particularly given Brooks recently became the first player since DeMarcus Cousins in 2017 to receive 16 techs and a suspension before the All-Star break.
It was also accepted long ago that playing the game the way that he does is part of what makes Brooks such a valuable asset and teammate.
It even led to him receiving some serious All-Star consideration for the first time in his career this season as well.
But there is another way of looking like this, whether or not Ighodaro ends up somehow being correct, and that is a young player holding his veteran teammate accountable.
It's unlikely Ighodaro would have said this unless it came up in the locker-room first, and you have to think Brooks would have no problem being spoken about to the media in this way either.
For a player who rubs opponents (and even officials) up the wrong way, he's incredibly self-aware and this was evident when he mentioned earlier in the year how he understood being traded for Kevin Durant.
He also was vocal in Booker being the player from the Suns who should have been an All-Star, at a time when his name was being brought up for the first time in his career.
It would be great to think Brooks will be available the rest of the way and not cost his team on any given night by giving up yet more technicals.
But even if he does, the Suns knew what they were getting when they traded for him and so far it has been more than worth it.