Dillon Brooks was all bark, no bite during the first round of the NBA playoffs. Despite sounding off about eliminating the Lakers and not respecting LeBron, it's Brooks who is getting an early start to the offseason. The seven-seed Lakers took down the two-seed Grizzlies in six games, including an embarrassing 125-85 rout in the decisive Game 6.
LeBron made his feelings on the "beef" between the two players known via Twitter. However, Brooks is unusually quiet. Maybe he's finally learning to walk the walk if he wants to talk to talk. Or maybe he's figuring out his next move, as he is set to be a free agent come the end of the season. The problem is that Brooks' silence is about to cost him a decent amount of money.
Brooks Fined For Media Policy Violation
Brooks did not make himself available to the media for any of the three road losses the Grizzlies suffered. Brooks did not play well in the series as a whole. He shot a dismal 31.2%, and an atrocious 23.8% from three. This was in spite of often being wide open as the Lakers de-prioritized perimeter defense. Brooks had some big moments in the backcourt, but they grew less and less frequent as the series progressed. He was also ejected from Game 3 after just 17 seconds of the third quarter for a flagrant foul on LeBron. However, Brooks was not alone as beyond a few notable exceptions, the Grizzlies as a whole struggled against the Lakers
His decision to skip the media for half the series is a violation of the NBA's policy on media access to players. He has now been handed down a $25,000 fine for his behavior, according to a statement from the league office. It's unclear where Brooks goes from here. He could still be offered an extension by the Grizzlies, or he could opt to test free agency. However, it remains to be seen how his on and off-court antics could affect his market. While Brooks can be an elite defender, are teams willing to risk it for his reputation? Be sure to make HotNewHipHop your first stop for all the biggest sports stories.
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