NBA Fans Troll Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks Tribute Video Following Offseason Rumors
Dillon Brooks made his return to Memphis on Friday, although the reaction to his tribute video from the Grizzlies was mixed.
Brooks spent the first six seasons of his career with the Grizzlies, becoming a defensive specialist that routinely attempted to get under opponents' skin. He was a key player on several of Memphis' recent playoff teams, appearing in 22 postseason games.
However, Brooks' relationship with the team soured to the point where he was reportedly informed that he "will not be brought back under any circumstances" with the team prior to entering free agency after the 2022-23 season (per Shams Charania of The Athletic).
This led to NBA fans being confused by Brooks, now a member of the Houston Rockets, receiving a tribute video.
The 27-year-old wasn't pleased with his ugly exit from Memphis, telling Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix that he was considered a "scapegoat" for the team's first-round playoff exit in 2023 after the organization enabled his pesky defensive tendencies throughout the season.
"What I didn't like about Memphis was they allowed that so they can get out of the woodwork, and then I'm the scapegoat of it all," Brooks said on Nov. 16. "That's what I didn't appreciate. And then ultimately they'll come to me on the low, as men, one on one and tell me something, but then not defend me when everything went down."
Given the rough ending to the relationship between the two sides, fans were perplexed by the situation on Friday night.
The Grizzlies have struggled this season, owning a record of just 6-17 as star point guard Ja Morant continues to serve a 25-game suspension that he received on June 16.
Houston has excelled with Brooks in the starting lineup, winning 12 of its first 21 games prior to Friday's action. The former second-round pick is averaging 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game on 46.3/39.4/84.4 shooting splits while appearing in every game for the team.
