Brooks embraces expanded offensive role in Phoenix Suns turnaround
Dillon Brooks averaged 20.2 points during the 2025-26 season, helping the Suns reach the playoffs after missing the postseason the previous year.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has publicly affirmed his satisfaction with his elevated status within the organisation, describing his current tenure as a "dream come true" and a "second coming" for his professional career. The comments, made during an appearance on The Road Trippin Show, signal a distinct shift in Brooks’ trajectory following his arrival in the desert.
Brooks, who joined the Suns via a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, averaged 20.2 points per game during the 2025-26 season. His increased offensive burden arose largely due to injuries sustained by key teammates Devin Booker and Bradley Green, who are regarded as the most talented players on the roster. Brooks stepped into the void, transitioning from a perimeter specialist to a primary scoring option.
The strategic overhaul began with the Suns executing a trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Grizzlies in exchange for Brooks and Green. This move marked a significant departure from the previous campaign, where the Suns failed to qualify for the playoffs despite Durant’s presence. The roster restructuring, which also saw the acquisition of Miles Bridges from the Charlotte Hornets and Luke Kennard from the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, contributed to a rapid turnaround in team performance.
Despite the regular-season success, the Suns’ postseason run concluded with a sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions. Nevertheless, the franchise views the 2025-26 season as a successful pivot, with Brooks, Booker, and Green established as the core trio. Young assets such as Khaman Maluach and Koa Peat are also being integrated into the long-term strategic plan.
Brooks contrasted his current comfort level with his previous tenures at the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, where he was primarily utilised as a "3-and-D" role player. He noted that the opportunity in Phoenix allowed him to utilise skills he felt he had previously left on the table, citing the quality of the fanbase and the organisational environment as key factors in his positive experience.
