Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks made his intentions clear before the play-in matchup even took shape. He wanted the Golden State Warriors, and he said it out loud.
“I would like to see the Warriors,” Brooks said after practice, pointing directly to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr as the reason. That wasn’t just confidence, it was a challenge. And when the moment arrived, Brooks backed it up.
Following Phoenix’s 111-96 win to secure the Western Conference’s eighth seed, Brooks didn’t just celebrate, The Athletic reports. He delivered a performance that matched the tone he set days earlier. Then came a moment few expected.
Dillon Brooks Reacts to Steve Kerr Postgame Message
As the final seconds expired, Brooks crossed paths with Kerr at midcourt. Given their history, the interaction could have gone in several directions. Instead, it turned into something far different.
“He had great words to say to me, amazing,” Brooks said. “I’m glad it was face-to-face.”
Then came the line that turned heads.
“When somebody that usually says controversial or criticizing things comes to you and tells you how great of a job you’re doing, it means a lot.”
@worththereplay
That statement carried weight. Brooks acknowledged the respect, but he also made it clear that Kerr’s past comments did not go unnoticed. The praise landed, but the history remained part of the exchange.
Brooks added that Kerr recognized his growth across stops in Memphis, Houston, and now Phoenix. The message focused on impact, culture, and consistency.
“To tell me you’re doing great things, you’re changing cultures and you’re a great player, it meant a lot,” Brooks said.
Suns Advance Behind Brooks’ Mentality
Brooks entered the matchup with admiration for Curry, calling him one of the greatest players ever. Still, admiration did not soften his approach. He wanted that stage, that opponent, and that pressure.
“It’s who you want to go against in an elimination game,” Brooks said. “They’ve been battle-tested in every way possible.”
Phoenix matched that intensity. The Suns controlled the game and punched their ticket to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
After the game, Draymond Green credited Brooks for setting a tone that travels with him from team to team.
“Any team he goes to, there’s a certain mentality that team’s going to play with,” Green said.
That mentality has defined Brooks’ career. It has also fueled his long-running tension with Golden State. Past incidents, including physical playoff moments and on-court clashes, built a reputation that Kerr himself once criticized.
That context made Friday’s exchange stand out even more.
Brooks admitted the moment caught him off guard.
“A little bit, yeah,” he said when asked if he was surprised Kerr approached him. “But when you work hard and do great things, it changes people’s light.”
He paused, then added a line that fit the night.
“I’ll just take it and put it in my pocket and keep working.”
The Suns now shift focus to Oklahoma City, but Brooks already sent a message. He called his shot, delivered, and turned a rivalry moment into something layered, respect mixed with memory, and maybe just a hint of something more.
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