PHOENIX– The NBA trade deadline was the top storyline when the Golden State Warriors visited the Phoenix Suns Thursday at Mortgage Matchup Center. But the ongoing feud between Suns forward Dillon Brooks and Warriors forward Draymond Green provided an intriguing undercard, leaving fans to brace for a tense battle between the Pacific Division foes.
Golden State closed the game on a 17-2 run after Phoenix led by 14 in the fourth quarter. The Suns’ late collapse gave Green and the Warriors the edge 101-97, and it gave Green the last laugh.
Brooks has drawn internet attention in more ways than one this season, but his most recent comments on popular Twitch streamer N3on’s stream Tuesday provided the backdrop for the game. During the appearance, Brooks took shots at NBA players who host podcasts, specifically targeting Green.
“I be getting on dudes that want to do the podcast when they’re playing because they’re all terrible,” Brooks said during the stream. “They’re all terrible at basketball because they’re so focused on that.”
Green responded to the comment, ironically on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” the following day, saying “(Brooks) said that we talk too much on our podcast, but he’s the one who’s been going to other people’s streams and, let’s just say, talking too much himself.
“If I was Dillon Brooks, I wouldn’t have too much love for this podcast either, being how he was annihilated on this podcast.”
The banter between Brooks and Green isn’t just recent history. The two have gone back and forth with one another ever since Brooks’ days in Memphis, playing in heated playoff series and plenty of Western Conference bouts all while making their disdain for one another public.
Both veterans have gained reputations for their competitive nature. Brooks leads the NBA in technical fouls this season (14), while Green is fourth on the list (10). Both frequently appear in the top five.
Despite the drama, Suns guard Grayson Allen said the friction between Brooks and Green doesn’t bleed through to the rest of the roster. Allen even showed respect for Green before the game.
“(Green’s) talking or anything else doesn’t factor into (our game plan),” Allen said. “He’s been a really good basketball player for a long time in this league. He’s a winner, so he’s a smart player.”
Allen scored 21 points on five 3-pointers before going down with a right knee injury late in the fourth quarter. He finished the play, but then went straight to the locker room and didn’t return after being subbed out.
Brooks, who continues to show his offensive capabilities in the absence of some Suns starters, gained recognition as Western Conference Player of the Week from Jan. 26 to Sunday. He scored 24 points in the loss, his sixth game with 20-plus over Phoenix’s last seven games.
“He’s the edge,” coach Jordan Ott said of Brooks’ competitiveness. “He leads us, his competitive spirit has been with us every night he suits up. And we feed off of it. … It’s kind of built. It’s been built that way over the course of the season, and it’s obviously led by him.”
That competitive edge was on display throughout the game. During a play when Brooks hit a turnaround jumper after bumping Warriors player Gui Santos to the ground, Brooks had some words for the injured Steph Curry on the sidelines.
Earlier in the week, Ott was recognized as January’s Western Conference Coach of the Month as the Suns posted an 11-5 record to start the year. Phoenix has found consistent success despite the loss, even without All-Star Devin Booker, who has sat out the last seven games.
“(Brooks has been) asked to carry a heavy offensive load, so we need to be there to support him when there’s times where it’s not just him out there, and I think our group’s done a really good job of that,” Ott said.
While he finished with just five points on three attempted field goals, Green got the win and the latest laugh in the ongoing boxing match that is the Brooks vs. Green rivalry.
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