RJ Barrett was out here dispelling misconceptions and demolishing illusions.
The Raptors forward was speaking with a few reporters after a Toronto practice at the University of Houston, and the conversation began with questions about Barrett’s Team Canada colleague, Dillon Brooks.
Isn’t it a worldwide pest?
Tempestuous personality, no?
A bit over the top, isn’t he?
“He might be the nicest guy you’ve ever met.”
Boom. Barrett bursts the balloon about the Houston Rockets forward.
The one thing that’s glaringly obvious after talking to Brooks’s current and past teammates as well as his former coach, is that’s the private Brooks is diametrically different from the Brooks that NBA fans have tagged “Dillon The Villain” at times.
Sure, he’s an intense competitor who isn’t afraid to play tough and take on all comers. He’s gone toe-to-toe with LeBron James, Golden State coach Steve Kerr joked earlier this season that Brooks is the only Canadian he’s ever met that he didn’t really like so there’s no denying that the Mississauga native can rankle. It’s how he plays.
“Dillon is a player that finds motivation for every single game,” said Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic, who coached Brooks with the Grizzlies. ”Every single game he’s always on, he’s always motivated and he’s ready to effect the game in any possible way.
“He takes a lot of pride on defensive end, he’s one of the best defenders in the league.”
And then in the next breath, Rajakovic explains the seldom-seen side of the 28-year-old Brooks.
“I always loved being around Dillon and he’s a great family guy,” Rajakovic said.
“When you see him around his daughter and the way he acts with his daughter, you see that he’s an amazing, amazing human being. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Barrett and Brooks, both of Mississauga, have known each other for years and endeared themselves to Canadian basketball fans even more last summer by leading Team Canada to a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup.
Their relationship is strong, and not out of the ordinary to two competitive professionals.
“Absolutely every time we play each other, we talk trash the whole game, pushing each other, all that,” Barrett said. “As soon as the buzzer sounds, big hug.
“I’ve got to say, he’s one of the nicest dudes that you’ll ever meet. But then on the court, he’s really competitive.”
That competitive nature, and the trickle down effect of Brooks’s on-court persona is what led the Rockets to give the free agent a four-year, $80-million (U.S.) contract last summer after six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies.
On a young Rockets team, Brooks and other veterans like Fred VanVleet and Jeff Green are charged with leading by example.
“He’s keeping guys accountable on the team, that they need to be better defensively, that they need to box out,” Rajakovic said, “He’s the first line of defence, every night guarding anybody from point guard to (the power forward) but he brings that kind of tenacity every single night. He just gets the whole team better.”
