Dillon Brooks credits the Warriors’ career-high playoff loss against the Pistons

PHOENIX – Dillon the Villain t-shirt at dinner, Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks made the most of it. He scored a game-high 40 points to lead the team to a convincing 114-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

The former No. 1 in the Eastern Conference had struggles with Brooks all night. It was also interesting because many of the shots he made were heavily contested.

It was a good defense, but a better attack. Days before, Charles Barkley suggested that Brooks should be an All-Star. Thursday’s game only reinforced that point and even had teammate Collin Gillespie singing his praises.

But his offensive growth it didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it happened at the end of his tenure with the Houston Rockets.

“After the (first-round) series with Golden State, I knew I wanted to be more of a shooter. More options,” Brooks shared after the game.

“So I’ve been working on things all summer, and then when the trade came, it was an opportunity to be a well-rounded scorer and have more opportunities.”

I asked Dillon Brooks what caused the change in his offensive game from last season to now.

“After the (first-round) series with Golden State, I knew I wanted to be more of a shooter. More options. So, I’ve been working on things all summer and then when the trade… pic.twitter.com/fJDvIiG6tH

— Hayden Cilley (@HaidenCilley) January 30, 2026

Opportunity comes in many forms, and the 2025-26 season was plenty. Even playing alongside Devin Booker showed just how valuable Brooks really is.

Dillon Brooks has every opportunity with the Suns

When Booker missed time with an injury, he stepped up. When Jaylen Green missed most of the season with an injury, Brooks stepped up.

In moments of big games, like against the Oklahoma City Thunder in early January, he stepped up. The potential for a big moment is there, but for that to happen, the opportunity must present itself.

And sometimes, that opportunity comes in the form of trust. Coach Jordan Ott has all the confidence in the world in Brooks. Both have been seen working tirelessly in the offseason, and there is mutual respect and understanding.

However, it was a special moment in the third quarter that raised some eyebrows. Brooks yelled at Otto about something that happened earlier in the match.

“He told me I typed so many words that I messed up the last few things about who to contact him with. He was right,” Ott explained.

“A lot of times I’m just laughing. The emotion, the passion, the care factor and really the other guys too, especially in these kinds of environments. Being in those kinds of environments, it’s new to me.”

When Brooks was asked about Otto’s comments, he said it wasn’t about who was right or wrong. It’s about constant communication, and that’s something they both do very well.

Career performance could be expected given the opportunity, but in a dominant way? That might have been the biggest surprise of the night.