Playing in his ninth NBA season, Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns is having the best year of his career at age 30.
The Suns acquired Brooks as part of the Kevin Durant trade with the Houston Rockets in the offseason. He looked like a salary filler initially, especially with Jalen Green and Khaman Maluach being younger.
However, Brooks has brought more than his own brand of toughness to Phoenix. He’s averaging a career-high 20.4 points per game, to go along with 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals. He’s shooting 43.7% from the field, 34.6% from the 3-point line and 85.8% from the charity stripe.
Brooks Makes a Huge Statement About His Suns Tenure
GettyDillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after not drawing a foul against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on January 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Many experts thought the Suns would be in rebuilding mode and would be tanking for a top draft pick this season.
But under new head coach Jordan Ott, they have created a new identity surrounding Devin Booker. Brooks became a legitimate second option due to Green’s hamstring issues early in the season.
Collin Gillespie has stepped up and turned into one of the most improved players in the league. It’s a total team effort that propelled the Suns to the play-in spots. They could have ranked higher if they hadn’t had many injuries this season.
In a post on The Players’ Tribune, Brooks made it known that he has found a home in Phoenix. He wants to remain part of the franchise and end his career in The Valley.
“When guys get traded, they always say, ‘This is the perfect fit,’” Brooks wrote. “I’d be bullsh*tting if I said I knew it at the time. But I damn sure know it now. Phoenix is my spot. I want to set the culture here for 20 years. I want to retire a Sun.”
Brooks is in the third year of a four-year, $86 million contract. He’s eligible to sign an extension with the Suns next season, which could be a four-year, $125 million deal, as per Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron.
Brooks Sends Warning To The NBA
The Suns could still finish the regular season in the sixth spot if they win all four of the remaining games. They will also need the Minnesota Timberwolves to continue their losing streak and not win any of their final four regular-season matchups.
But regardless of making the playoffs directly or the NBA Play-In Tournament, Brooks has a warning to the entire league.
“This season ain’t over,” Brooks wrote. “We’re still lurking. The monster is still under the bed, bro. It’s almost like the whole NBA wants us to go away. It’s like they respect us, but they want somebody else to play us. Anybody else, bro.”
He added: “That’s a testament to what we’re building here in the desert. When I got here, they were talking lottery. Now what they talking about? We got everybody in the league looking down, staring at their shoes. Honestly, answer me…. Who in their right mind wants to see the Phoenix Suns right now?”
If the Suns make the playoffs as the No. 7 or No. 8 seed, they would be facing the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
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