Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks is hitting the offseason hard, and he’s doing it in a way nobody really saw coming: training with UFC fighter Li Jingliang all the way in China. This isn’t your typical summer league grind or gym workout, folks. This is a 30-year-old NBA vet pushing his limits with a top-tier mixed martial artist, and you gotta wonder what kind of edge he’s looking for ahead of the new season.
Unlocking a New Level in the Offseason
Talk about dedication! Brooks is putting in serious work across the globe with Li Jingliang, known for his relentless style in the Octagon. It’s a truly unique regimen for an NBA player, especially when you’re gearing up for what the Suns hope will be a reprisal of Brooks’ last strong campaign. You don’t just casually train with a UFC fighter unless you’re chasing something big, right? This kind of commitment signals Brooks is dead serious about taking his game to another level, adding a whole new dimension to his preparation.
He’s coming off his best season yet in 2025-26, averaging a career-high 20.2 points. That’s a significant number for any player, especially when you factor in his other contributions: 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and one steal across 56 games. Those are solid all-around stats showing he can impact the game in multiple ways. But here’s the kicker: even with his career-best performance and the Suns surprisingly reaching the postseason, they got absolutely swept in four games by the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s gotta sting, and it definitely puts this extreme offseason training into sharp focus.
The Stakes Are High After That Postseason Sweep
That sweep against the Thunder had to leave a bitter taste, and Brooks, coming off a career year, is clearly not satisfied. You don’t go to China to train with a UFC fighter if you’re content with a first-round exit. This isn’t just about maintaining form, it’s about pushing boundaries and finding that extra gear. The Suns need that fire, especially after how last season ended. They need that 20.2-point scorer to be even tougher, more resilient, and ready to lead. This unique training with Jingliang isn’t just a cool photo op, it’s a statement.
It shows Brooks is all-in on making sure his “strong campaign” translates into deeper postseason success for the Suns. With him putting in this kind of intense, unconventional work, it’ll be fascinating to see how it manifests on the court. Will he come back even more physical? Will that mental toughness from MMA training give him an edge? The Suns’ next season is on the horizon, and every fan will be watching to see if this wild offseason move helps Brooks and the team bounce back from that sweep and make some serious noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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