The Houston Rockets have built their identity around grit and defense. They’re young, physical, and sometimes downright chaotic on that end of the floor. No one embodies that chaos better than Dillon Brooks. He’s the Rockets’ “in-your-face” enforcer—the guy who toes the line between lockdown defense and outright fouls. Sure, he gets away with more contact than most, but there’s no denying his footwork and instincts keep him right in front of the league’s best scorers.
Now, with a first-round playoff clash against the Golden State Warriors approaching, tensions are rising. This isn’t Brooks’ first dance with the Dubs. He already had his moments with both Stephen Curry and Gary Payton II in the past. So, there’s already some tension in the air. It’s not just about basketball now; it’s personal. The Rockets will need Brooks to stay sharp, and more importantly, stay on the floor.
Interestingly, Brooks insists he will keep his promise. When asked about how many ejections he expects in this series, he quickly shut down the idea. “I don’t know, I am not going to get ejected. I’ll leave that to somebody else,” he said.
Dec 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) warms up before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
However, not everyone’s buying it. On The Timeout, when Chris Johnson asked, “Who on the Rockets team have the discipline to stay with Steph?” Udonis Haslem responded confidently, “I’m putting Dillon Brooks on—I’m putting Dillon Brooks on Steph. Let me finish.”
But Dwyane Wade didn’t let that slide. “Too many antics… Hold on. You can’t say Dillon Brooks and discipline in the same sentence,” Wade fired back. Remember when Dillon Brooks left Jayson Tatum staggering to the floor in 2023? That’s the kind of edge he brings—and why even a Hall of Famer like Dwyane Wade can’t help but raise an eyebrow.
Still, Haslem stood firm: “Listen, I’m not saying he’s going to stop him, but I know that mother f–ker is going to give me 110%. He’s going to give it all to you.” And just like that, the debate rolls on—with another former player also chiming in on Brooks’ unpredictable impact.
Unlike Dwyane Wade, Danny Green warns Warriors about Dillon Brooks
While Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem were busy trading jabs over Dillon Brooks’ discipline, Danny Green took the conversation in a different direction. Instead of questioning Brooks, the three-time NBA champ sent out a warning—to the Warriors and especially Draymond Green.
“If he doesn’t keep his cool and gets in his antics and gets in it with Dillon Brooks,” Green said on First Take. “Brooks, even if he does get tossed, Houston has enough pieces to win. But without Draymond Green, Golden State is a totally different team; they don’t have their identity.”
Naturally, Green speaks from experience. He’s been around long enough to understand how players like Brooks operate. And more importantly, how guys like Draymond can get into unnecessary drama. “He’s the more aggressive with it, and in the playoffs time, he really doesn’t control it as much as he should,” Green added. That’s the exact kind of matchup Dillon Brooks thrives on—poking, prodding, and getting under your skin just enough to mess up your rhythm.
Moreover, with the Rockets stacked with young talent like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, even a small lapse can be costly. Especially if Draymond finds himself watching from the locker room instead of patrolling the paint. Without him, the Warriors’ defense becomes way too soft, and their rebounding—already a concern—takes a major hit.
Jan 27, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9), forward Amen Thompson (1) and guard Jalen Green (4) react after defeating the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
That’s why Green stressed, “I don’t see them win this series without him.” Because when the Rockets crash the boards and get those second-chance buckets, there’s no plan B for Golden State without their defensive anchor holding it all together.
They say the furnace of playoff basketball forges champions—or melts them. As Dillon Brooks prowls the lane hunting Curry, Wade’s barb about Brooks’s lack of “discipline” and Danny Green’s warning that Golden State “loses its identity” without Draymond loom large. This series will be decided not by X’s and O’s but by who flinches first. Will Brooks spark the fireworks and force a Warriors meltdown, or will Steph, Draymond and co. absorb the heat, stay locked in, and turn Houston’s chaos into their own catalyst? Game 1 will tell.
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