Memphis Grizzlies “DO NOT want Dillon Brooks to return under any circumstances next season with a disappointing first-round playoff series with the LA Lakers seen as the breaking point.”
- The Grizzlies informed Brooks of their decision after losing to the Lakers in six games
- Brooks, 27, has had feuds with LeBron James, Donovan Mitchell and Gary Payton II
- offers the latest international sports news
The Memphis Grizzlies have informed hot-headed forward Dillon Brooks that after their first-round postseason exit, he will not be on the team next season, multiple sources revealed on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old, who is up for a full free agent, is “under no circumstances” welcome back, according to The Athletic.
The Grizzlies informed Brooks of their decision to part ways at the exit meetings after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the Western Conference playoff series.
That streak was reportedly the turning point for Memphis, as Brooks made headlines for calling LeBron James “old” and “tired” and later punching the Lakers superstar in the groin, resulting in a Game 3 ejection. He later said that he had no regrets about any of his actions or comments.
After the Grizzlies’ lopsided 125-85 elimination loss in Los Angeles in Game 6 Friday night, Brooks fled the arena without speaking to reporters.
Dillon Brooks will not be welcomed back to Memphis after the team’s miserable exit from the playoffs in LA
Brooks was on the bench in the second half of the Grizzlies’ 40-point loss to LA in Game 6
The NBA on Sunday fined $25,000 for violating league media access rules.
Brooks finished Game 6 with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. For the series, he averaged 10.5 points on 31.2 percent shooting with 3.0 rebounds.
The Lakers often left the Canadian forward wide open during the series, challenging him to shoot while fielding an extra defender to keep Grizzlie All-Star Ja Morant from driving or handing him off to sniper Desmond Bane, who was on The area lurked for him.
Brooks helped the Grizzlies become the West’s No. 2 by averaging 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 73 games (all starts) during the regular season.
Brooks got into several altercations with Donovan Mitchell, Gary Payton II and Lebron James
Brooks, a second-round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, averaged 14.5 points, 3.1 boards and 2.1 assists in 345 career games (318 starts) with Memphis.
He only played for the Tennessee-based franchise in his six years in the league and was considered the team’s longest-tenured player.
Brooks has been involved in several altercations over the years and received a suspension for hitting Gary Payton II in the head in the 2022 playoffs, which caused him to sit out a game against the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.
Earlier that season, he also beat the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell, which sparked an on-court brawl in front of thousands of fans.
Brooks turned down a contract extension with the Grizzlies earlier in the 2022-23 season, which according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania “ended talks”.