Dillon Brooks

Dillon Brooks

Dillon Brooks (born January 22, 1996) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg), Brooks plays the small forward and shooting guard positions.

He played three seasons of college basketball for the Oregon Ducks, where he was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2017 and a consensus second-team All-American. Brooks was selected 45th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets and immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he spent the first six seasons of his career. He is a prominent member of the Canadian national team, helping them secure a historic bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Early Life 

 

Brooks was born in Mississauga, Ontario, to Anita Diane Brooks. He attended Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in Toronto before transferring to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada, to gain more exposure to American college recruiters.

High School Career

 

As a four-star recruit, Brooks was noted for his physical frame and natural scoring ability. He averaged 25.2 points and 5.2 rebounds during the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, leading Canada to a silver medal and establishing himself as a top-tier international prospect. He committed to the University of Oregon on August 17, 2014.

College Career (2014–2017)

Brooks was a three-year starter for coach Dana Altman at Oregon, helping transform the program into a national contender.

• Freshman Season (2014–2015): He averaged 11.5 points per game and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
• Sophomore Season (2015–2016): Brooks led the Ducks to the Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles. He averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, earning First-team All-Pac-12 honors. 
• Junior Season (2016–2017): Despite a foot injury in the summer, Brooks returned to lead Oregon to the Final Four. He was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year and a consensus Second-team All-American.

He finished his college career with averages of 14.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft.

NBA Career

Memphis Grizzlies (2017–2023)

Brooks started 74 games as a rookie, averaging 11.0 points and setting a record for the most points by a Canadian in an NBA debut with 19. He became a vital part of the “Grind City” culture, known for his aggressive perimeter defense and outspoken personality.

In the 2021 playoffs, he made a splash in his debut by scoring 31 points in a Game 1 upset of the top-seeded Utah Jazz. In 2023, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. However, his tenure in Memphis ended following a high-profile first-round exit against the Lakers, during which he drew significant media attention for his “villain” persona and public criticisms of LeBron James.

Houston Rockets (2023–2025)

On July 8, 2023, Brooks joined the Rockets via a sign-and-trade agreement on a four-year, $86 million contract. He served as a defensive anchor for a young Houston squad, averaging 12.7 points in his first season and a career-high 39.7% from three-point range in 2024-25. On January 27, 2025, he set a Rockets franchise record by making ten three-pointers in a 36-point performance against the Boston Celtics.

Phoenix Suns (2025–present)

In the summer of 2025, Brooks was traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of a complex seven-team trade. As of February 11, 2026, he is having a career year in Phoenix, averaging 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists through 47 games.

On January 29, 2026, Brooks scored a career-high 40 points in a victory over the Detroit Pistons. 

National Team Career

Brooks has been a fixture for Team Canada since 2015, when he won silver at the Pan American Games. He played a central role in Canada’s bronze medal run at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where he was named the tournament’s Best Defensive Player. He set a Canadian single-game scoring record with 39 points in the bronze medal victory over the United States. He also represented Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics, averaging 11.3 points per game.

 

Personal Life

Outside of basketball, Dillon Brooks has established a unique identity through his business ventures and a high-profile personal life.

• Entrepreneurship: Brooks is a savvy angel investor, most notably in Panda Hub, a mobile car-detailing marketplace. He initially discovered the service as a user and eventually became a strategic partner to help scale their technology.
• Family & Legal Matters: He has two daughters, Mila and Luna, with his former partner, Heather Andrews. Their relationship has been subject to significant public and legal scrutiny. In June 2025, Brooks filed for a temporary restraining order against Andrews following a domestic dispute where he alleged harassment and threats to his professional career.
• The “Villain” Persona: Widely known by the nickname “Villain Brooks” (or “Dillon the Villain”), he has fully leaned into his reputation as the NBA’s primary antagonist. Rather than shying away from the “villain” label, Brooks has explicitly stated that he embraces the role to fuel his competitive intensity and maintain a psychological edge on the court.