Full disclosure, this is not going to be an impartial look at Dillon Brooks. How could it be after that fourth-quarter we just saw from him in Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder?
The Phoenix Suns might have come up short once again, effectively ensuring they will be swept out of the playoffs, but Brooks was a delight throughout.
Brooks the physical embodiment of who Suns want to be
But with his teammates struggling to shake off some more physical Thunder defending, it was Brooks who made all manner of shots to keep the Suns within touching distance in the fourth.
His step over fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was straight nasty after a made bucket, as was tricking him into committing a four for a four point play. Now you know what it feels like Shai.
"He was efficient and I got him Game 4."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 25, 2026
Dillon Brooks on defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. #Suns #ThunderUp
Now is not the time to talk about Kevin Durant, Brooks in one season has carved out a special relationship with these Suns fans, and yet it is impossible not to.
The pair are complete opposites, and whereas Brooks has pulled this Suns' roster together to ensure this was a successful season with a bonus postseason appearance, Durant went the other way.
He was unavailable through injury for Games 1 & 3, while the one time he was available he had nine turnovers and was outplayed by LeBron James.
In the Houston Rockets' overtime loss in their most recent outing to fall down 3-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers, Durant wasn't even bothered to sit on the bench with his teammates.
You just know Brooks would never do that, and if there is one complaint to have about his performance down the stretch of the Suns' loss it was that he did not ask for the ball enough.
He cannot take every shot, and yet every time Jalen Green forced something instead of him all you could do was groan. The ball simply had to find its way back into his hands more.
The Valley is never going to have a problem with Devin Booker taking an open look, but it wasn't to be for him either as he went 6-of-16 on the night.
The Suns are trying to build another contender here, and although some guys have to go sooner rather than later, Brooks has quickly become the co-star alongside Booker to build around.
He never backed down from the Thunder once, and if this is what rooting for Brooks is going to look like for the rest of his career then sign us up.
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