Memphis Grizzlies small forward Dillon Brooks isn’t usually one to back down from any of his NBA opponents.
Mavericks star Luka Doncic is the latest player to fall in Brooks’ crosshairs.
Just before Saturday’s Grizzlies-Mavericks game, Brooks questioned Doncic’s toughness after learning the Mavs star would not play due to a hamstring injury.
“It shows that sometimes they’re not ready to go back to a physical game,” Brooks said of Doncic’s absence, according to Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal of Memphis.
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Luka Doncic (77) of the Dallas Mavericks and Dillon Brooks (24) of the Memphis Grizzlies during a game at the FedEx Forum on December 8, 2021 in Memphis. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Brooks also told reporters he wants to play against Doncic in the teams’ next clashes later this season.
The rivals played on October 22, but Brooks was ruled out through injury. Doncic’s 32 points led the Mavs to a 137-96 blowout.
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“Hopefully Luka comes back for the next game so I can keep him,” Brooks added, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I didn’t have the chance to keep him in the first game, and he had a great game. So I want to see where I am.
Dillon Brooks (24) of the Memphis Grizzlies fights with Donovan Mitchell (45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 2, 2023 in Cleveland. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Kyrie Irving was not exempt from Brooks’ trash talk. Brooks said he was excited about the prospect of playing Irving as Doncic sat on the sidelines.
“Now I can pick it up myself today, so I want to see what it’s all about,” Brooks said. “He had a few words for me in Brooklyn, so I can’t wait to pick him up every time and watch him wear himself out.”
Saturday’s game marked the first of three meetings between the Mavs and Grizzlies over the next ten days.
Brooks is fresh off his latest dispute involving Warriors forward Draymond Green. Following Golden State’s loss to Memphis on Thursday, Brooks and Green continued their increasingly bitter feud.
After Brooks scored a layup to give the Grizzlies a 74–57 lead late in the second quarter, things went sour between Brooks and Green.
After the match, Brooks brushed off Green when asked what he said to Green before their short altercation.
“That’s what I do, I talk,” Brooks said. “I said to him… keep that mic, you’re better at the mic than the hoop, you know what I mean? So keep doing his podcast, keep blogging, keep doing his thing off the pitch. It’s cute, it’s fun for him.
Draymond Green (23) of the Golden State Warriors and Dillon Brooks (24) of the Memphis Grizzlies exchange words during the second quarter at Chase Center on December 25, 2022 in San Francisco. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Brooks also suggested he motivates himself to play at a high level whenever Green talks about him.
“You should give the microphone to Draymond. Keep him talking about me so I can play better,” Brooks added.
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The Mavericks will be careful in how they deal with Doncic’s injury. The Mavericks are six games behind the Grizzlies in the Southwest Division. Memphis is the third seed in the Western Conference, while Dallas would be the sixth seed if the playoffs started today.
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