Dillon Brooks is already back on the grind, holding a basketball camp for kids and teenagers out in Arizona this past weekend, but it was his intro that really grabbed headlines. The man walked into the gym, 350 campers chanting his name, and then he just *stopped*. Stared everyone down. Seriously, a breathing and focus exercise he straight-up took from heavyweight legend Mike Tyson before running through the crowd giving high fives. That’s a vibe.
Slimmed Down and Ready to Pounce?
The Athletic’s Doug Haller mentioned Brooks looked “slimmed-down” at the camp, a detail that makes you wonder what kind of shape the guy is in. Brooks, however, quickly shut down any talk about intentional weight loss. He told Haller any drop wasn’t purposeful, and he plans to add a few pounds now that he’s back stateside. “I feel great,” he said, which is exactly what you want to hear from a guy who just inked a massive deal. With NBA training camps kicking off later this month, it’s clear the 30-year-old is gearing up for his next chapter, whether he intended to lose weight or not.
The Villain Embrace and a Huge Suns Bet
Brooks signed a massive three-year, $73 million extension with the Phoenix Suns this offseason, a huge commitment after he averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game across 56 contests. That’s big money for a guy who’s become known as one of the league’s most prominent pests. And guess what? He’s leaning into that “villain” label, too. He told Haller, “As a human being, you have good, and you have a little bit of bad, a little bit of villainy.” He sees it in moderation, saying people resonate with it, and that a villain isn’t always bad, but it’s about “the hard work. It’s the relentlessness to be the best at what you want to be.” That’s his take on showcasing that competitive fire.
So, what does all this mean for the Suns and the rest of the league? This dude is showing up, staring people down like Iron Mike, and fully embracing the competitive edge that’s landed him a huge contract. With training camps just around the corner, every team better be ready. You know Brooks will be.
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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