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[Saba Sports News] Dillon Brooks’ evolution into the NBA’s next Draymond Green might just be complete.
During Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz, the Houston Rockets forward was assessed a technical foul for a questionable play involving Jazz guard Collin Sexton.
In the first quarter, Sexton stripped the ball from Brooks as he attempted a shot. In response, Brooks flailed his limbs and appeared to kick Sexton in the midsection.
The referees initially called a kicked-ball turnover, but after reviewing the play for a possible hostile act, they upgraded it to a technical foul.
It turned out to be a costly one—Brooks’ 16th of the season—triggering an automatic one-game suspension. He’ll now be forced to sit out Houston’s upcoming matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
Despite the incident, Brooks has been enjoying a strong individual season, averaging 13.9 points per game while shooting nearly 40% from three and providing his usual tenacious defense.
But his tendency to toe the line with his physicality and antics could become a liability, especially with the playoffs looming. The Rockets currently sit at second in the Western Conference with a 49-27 record.
At 29, Brooks has mastered the art of getting under opponents’ skin—often to his team’s benefit. But if he doesn’t rein it in, his behavior could come back to haunt Houston when it matters most.