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PHOENIX SUNS

Dillon Brooks needs stitches after Suns scrimmage, reveals who ‘Villain Jr.’ is

Dillon Brooks revealed who "Villain Jr." is hours after he took an elbow to the face and earned some stitches in today's Suns scrimmage.

Watch: Dillon Brooks got extended, and we tier out the Suns' Western Conference | 56 mins

PHOENIX — It should come as a shock to absolutely no one that Dillon Brooks will need stitches after the Phoenix Suns scrimmaged on Friday.

Brooks called across the court as head coach Jordan Ott spoke to reporters after practice, drawing attention to the tape over his right eyebrow.

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“He got hit (by) an elbow that was a freak play in the middle of the last part of practice,” Ott said. “He just got split open right along the eyebrow, so I’m sure he’ll play that one up. We’ll all hear how many stitches he gets.

“He was defending a little too close and he got clipped.”

The effort Brooks brings to practice is contagious and rubbing off on some of the younger players, according to Ott.

“If we ever want intensity in practice, we just have them play 5-on-5,” Ott said. “Like it’s instantly brought, and Dillon leads it for sure, but everyone picks up their play.

“Oso (Ighodaro) has grown into someone that will chirp back, Collin (Gillespie) brings his own edge to it, that’s who thesse guys are. … Dillon brings that out. It’s every day, I mean, how hard these guys practice, I’ll continue to say it’s abnormal.”

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The effort translating to the regular season is another thing entirely, but Ott said he’s felt just how competitive the group is on a consistent basis.

Dillon Brooks finally anoints Villain Jr.

Back on Sept. 25, Brooks — whose nickname has become Dillon the Villain over the years — told reporters there was a “Villain Jr.” that was taking after his pesky habits and he would let everyone else stew on it and try to figure it out.

Then on Tuesday, Brooks said it’s not someone people would expect, while letting the most important factor out: “He wanted it.”

The official reveal — with blood still visible underneath tape on his eyebrow — came on Friday:

Collin Gillespie pretended he didn’t know anything about it just hours earlier when he was asked about being Villain Jr., presumably letting the senior Villain make the announcement for him.

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“I think we got a lot of guys that are like that, a lot of guys that are hungry, competitive, want to win and will do anything to win,” Gillespie said. “But I think Dillon being known as that guy around the league that’s tough, physical, no-nonsense type of stuff, like he won’t take anything, kind of can project that to the rest of the team, and he sets the tone.

“I think once other guys see it, they need to feed off that energy.”

Gillespie made note of the switch Brooks can flip, going from the physical villain on the court to “super chill off the court.” He added it’s a classic example of the guy “you hate to play against but love when he’s on your team.”

Damon Allred ASU reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

Damon Allred is the Arizona State reporter for Arizona Sports and is a web editor for arizonasports.com and KTAR.com. Born and raised in the Valley, Damon has lived in the metro Phoenix area for most of his life. He began covering ASU in fall 2024… Read more

Comments

7 Comments

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EarlBlack JesusMonroe 10 months ago

I don't see Phoenix trading any centers but after watching the rookie Maluach, Oso and Richards, it makes the trade for the oft-injured Mark Williams even more puzzling.

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Degasu 10 months ago

Great post! I am very excited for this suns team. Trying to not to tie my excitement to expectations because the weather is so stacked

The way I see it though, you lose offensive efficiency sure but greatly increased athleticism, should get much better rebounds, much better defense and a lot less turn overs (Durant was a turnover machine).

I think book and green (Grayson for now) can be good. To me, its really all about what they get out of the center position that'll determine this season.

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EarlBlack JesusMonroe 10 months ago

Grayson Allen should get the start alongside Booker. A Booker/Allen backcourt mimics the Cavs backcourt of Mitchell/Garland. Ott's motion offense doesn't rely on an old-school ball dominate point guard like a Nash or Stockton. IMO that is why we are seeing Oso at center, utilizing his high basketball IQ and passing skills. Nick Richards doing his best Jarrett Allen imitation will get him minutes while the rookie Maluach is the prototypical center that Ott loves. Jordan Ott beginning to win me over.

Courtesy of Jesse Cinquini, a write for a Fans Nation Cavs site:

"The Cleveland Cavaliers’ offensive attack was nothing short of a juggernaut during the 2024-25 season. Cleveland scored a whopping 121.9 points per game, a mark that ranked as the highest scoring average in the league and 11th-highest in league history."

"Strong 3-point shooting and great scoring efficiency were keys to the Cavaliers being tough to stop as an offensive unit. They finished second in the NBA in 3-point percentage and field-goal percentage, and they also knocked down the second-most 3-pointers per contest of any team in the league."

"According to former Cavaliers assistant coach DeMarre Carroll, who’s now an assistant with the Phoenix Suns, Jordan Ott was behind Cleveland’s lethal offense last season. Ott is departed forthe newest head coach of the Suns after he was a member of the Cavaliers’ coaching staff along with Carroll last season."

From DaMarre Carroll; "Jordan Ott a “mastermind”, saying that last year in Cleveland “he ran that whole offense for us.” In the regular season, the Cavs ranked first in offensive efficiency."

Kenny Atkinson also lost assistant coach Alex Sarama who left to become Head Coach of the WNBA new expansion team the Portland Fire. Chris Darnell left to join the Kings and Bryan Tibaldi departed for Providence College.

Interesting watch will be the Cavs with Atkinson losing so much of his staff.