Why Dillon Brooks was fined $35,000 for hating the refs
NBA fined Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks $35,000 after the league ruled he confronted and used inappropriate language toward game officials who were watching Phoenix’s 114–113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, at the Mortgage Matchup Center. The league’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, James Jones, formally announced the punishment.
The incident happened moments after a dramatic finish in which the Suns closed out the night with a 9-0 run in the final 49 seconds. Brooks fouled out with 18 seconds left despite leading Phoenix with 22 points, leaving the floor with his team trailing by one. A few seconds later, Colin Gillespie buried a short layup with 6.7 seconds leftturning a last-ditch Suns push into a game-winning score.
This is Brooks’ second NBA suspension of the season. He was previously fined $25,000 on November 13 for what the league called a “lewd gesture” during Phoenix’s 133–98 win over the Indiana Pacers. Brooks’ disputes with referees have been a constant theme, and his four technical fouls through Nov. 19 led the NBA.
Under league rules, fines for the first five technical fouls are $2,000 each, eventually escalating to a $5,000 fine and a one-game suspension when a player reaches 16, the number Brooks hit last season, finishing second in the league behind Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.
Penalties aside, Brooks, acquired from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade that also sent Jalen Green and 2025 No. 10 pick Khaman Maluach to Houston in July, has been a big factor in Phoenix’s strong early season performance.
The Suns, currently 10-6, have won nine of their last 11 games, with Brooks averaging 21.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.1 steals and shooting 46.0% from the field, 34.2% from three and 87.2% from the line over 30 minutes.
Phoenix will play the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at 8pm ET.
2025-11-23 22:51:00
