Why doesn’t the Grizzlies Dillon Brooks like the Warriors Draymond Green and what did he say about him?
If one thing is clear about the relationship between the Grizzlies and the Warriors, it’s that there isn’t one. That’s to say, they really really don’t like each other.
In what is becoming an increasingly heated rivalry between the two Western Conference teams, the Grizzlies guard made it clear how he feels about the Warriors’ contentious ‘bad boy,’ ye it’s got to be said he was respectful in his words, which hasn’t always been the case between the two camps.
Dillon Brooks doesn’t like the Warriors or Draymond Green
On Friday night, Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks picked up his league-leading 16th technical foul, meaning he will now be suspended for his team’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. In case you didn’t know, that’s a big loss for the Grizzlies, as Brooks is by far one of the best defenders in the league. On the other hand, the 27-year-old is also one of the most divisive players in the league with his tough ‘no prisoners taken’ approach to the game. Indeed, it was that side of him that we saw in a recent interview with ESPN, where he made his feelings known about the Golden State Warriors and more specifically, Draymond Green.
“I don’t like Draymond at all,” Brooks said. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool - with Golden State - but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.” As you can imagine, Green himself was not nice when he responded, referring to Brooks as a “glorified role player,” after explaining that without championship rings or accolades he has no place to talk.
Does Dillon Brooks have a point about Draymond Green?
While Brooks’ comments about Green raise an interesting point, this is not a new critique to be made of varying athletes in various team sports and quite frankly, it really doesn’t matter. What is actually of greater interest is the fact that it’s not common at all in today’s modern era to see players directly critiquing others. Gone are the days of tough men like Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman who had no hesitation is airing their thoughts about fellow players whether teammate or otherwise. Yet, if we’re honest that’s the exact quality which has endeared Brooks to the Memphis faithful. Quite frankly, Grizzlies fans love his attitude and that has only served to further push him to establish himself as one of the best, but most hated perimeter defenders out there.
Dillon Brooks’ beef with Golden State runs deep
To be fair, where Brooks and the Warriors are concerned, there is definitely history between them. Fans will remember, that it was during the second round of the playoffs last season, when Brooks made a flagrant foul on Warriors guard, Gary Payton II, that left Payton with a fractured elbow and kept him out of the team’s next 10 postseason games. As you can imagine, the moment was not well received such that when the teams met again on Christmas Day last year, it was clear that Green and Klay Thompson had not forgotten. The pair made a concerted effort to taunt Brooks throughout what became a 123-109 Warriors win. With the teams set to face each other twice this month - March 9th and 18th - we imagine things are going to be heated to say the least. Especially considering this latest episode in what’s quickly becoming one of the NBA’s most tense rivalries.