The Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis was carelessly touched in the crotch by Houston Rockets guard-forward Dillon Brooks, it was revealed today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President and head of Basketball Operations. Brooks was fined $25,000 for the incident. In July, he agreed to a contract with the Houston Rockets.
The incident happened with 7:27 left in the first quarter of the Rockets’ 122-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers on October 10 at Toyota Center in Houston. During the game, Brooks was given a Flagrant Foul 2 and removed.
Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was fined $25,000 for making excessive contact with Pacers center Daniel Theis in the groin area, per the NBA.pic.twitter.com/x0HuYwRMJ8
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 12, 2023
The live feed captured the entire event. This was setting a screen when Brooks, who was guarding Pacers player Benedict Mathurin, flung his left arm at him. He knelt down on the court after Brooks’ shot, plainly in pain as he leaned down.
Dillon Brooks was asked if he feels like there is a target on his back because of his aggressive style of play:
“What’s the name,” Brooks said. “My name is ‘Dillon the Villain.” #Rockets #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/01pWrRLqnr— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 11, 2023
Ime Udoka, the head coach of the new Rockets, addressed the incident and told the Houston Chronicle that while he appreciates Brooks’ overall “aggressiveness and physicality.” Udoka also added, “reputations carry in the NBA, and people will look for certain things.”
In May, Brooks received a $25,000 punishment for failing to address the media after the Grizzlies’ subsequent losses. Before that, he gained notoriety for criticizing LeBron James, which led to the Grizzlies cutting him off from the team.
Dillon Brooks embraces the villain role in the NBA
Tuesday night, during the Rockets’ 122-103 preseason win against the Indiana Pacers, Brooks unimaginably made his NBA debut. In five minutes of play, he had zero points (whereas he didn’t even get a shot off) and one assist. What led to his early departure? He was charged with a flagrant two penalty for striking Daniel Theis near his groins in the “man parts.”
“What’s my name? The name is ‘Dillon the Villain,’” Brooks said after the game. “I might have tapped him below the waist. But he got right back up. I don’t know. It’s weird that every time it happens to me, I get picked on. I guess it’s part of reputation.”
This is not the first time Dillon has done something like this. This is a usual thing for the NBA as well as its fans now. A similar incident occurred during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 when he was playing for Canada.
Dillon Brooks is asked how it feels to be a villain.
“It’s just a persona. People love it. I’ve grown to love it myself.”
“Like Kobe Bryant…how he had to figure out how to create a Black Mamba. You know a different persona when he comes on the court”
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) September 10, 2023
One may contend that Brooks is demonstrating his readiness to go above and beyond to play outstanding defense. Another perspective is that Theis was just unlucky and took a bad hit. Because of this, the Houston Rockets will now be in the limelight. So will “Dillon the Villain.”