Dillon Brooks says Grizzlies made him ‘the scapegoat of it all’ ahead of free agency

When Dillon Brooks exited the Memphis Grizzlies, it wasn’t exactly graceful. Now with the Houston Rockets, his aggression towards LeBron James in the NBA playoffs last year landed him in the spotlight. However, his team was swept and Brooks faced ridicule for his performance, refusing to speak to the media afterwards.

Things only got worse when the Grizzlies leaked that they would not sign Brooks “under any circumstances.” It’s a loud door slamming by his own team in free agency.

Brooks then spoke with Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix to express his dissatisfaction with how Memphis treated him.

Brooks had previously expressed that the Grizzlies left him with a “big chip,” and that he had Wednesday’s game circled at Rockets media day.

Despite his turbulent past, the Rockets signed Brooks on a four-year, $80 million deal, proving that they weren’t too bothered by his previous actions. So far, he’s made a solid impact, particularly with his impressive shooting numbers (55.1% from the field, 53.3% from deep).

He has also been a key veteran on a young Rockets team that has started the season 6-3.

While the Grizzlies may have made Brooks a scapegoat, it’s clear that he also played a role in the disappointing series against the Lakers, escalating it into a sideshow. As the Rockets prepare to face the Grizzlies next, the situation may prove to be a source of satisfaction for Brooks, as Memphis has struggled this season.

With injuries and Ja Morant’s suspension, the team has a poor 2-9 record. Despite the difficulties, Brooks is likely to have plenty to say if the Rockets come out on top in that game.