Why has Dillon Brooks been fined by the NBA before the start of the season?
Brooks had nightmare debut for the Rockets. He was ejected and hit with a $25,000 fine for an incident involving Daniel Theis in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Pacers.
Guard Dillon Brooks made headlines in Thursday’s preseason game between the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers for hitting center Daniel Theis in the genitals. Now he will pay the price - Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations, announced that the Canadian is subject to a fine of $25,000.
Brooks’ attack on Theis occurred with 7:27 left in the first quarter. The game ended 122-103 in favor of the Rockets and the former Memphis Grizzlies player finished the game with two personal fouls, and one assist during his five minutes on-court.
A video of the incident shows the Houston guard attempting to avoid the Indiana center’s screen, but he moved his arms clumsily and struck Theis where it hurts. On the buzzer, Brooks alleged that the expulsion was due more to his record than to the violence of the contact per se. Last year, when he was still playing with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, the Canadian was ejected three times between the regular season and the playoffs.
Dillon Brooks' path in the NBA
Brooks became a player for the Houston Rockets in the offseason after agreeing to a four-year contract in exchange for $80 million. His departure from Memphis was precipitated after a difficult playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers and several tough interactions with LeBron James.
So far, the veteran of six seasons has played 240 games in the NBA, 214 as a starter, and his averages are 14 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28.3 minutes.