Fans in splits as Dillon Brooks dares Kyrie Irving ahead of their matchup: "Dillon Brooks the new Pat Bev?"
Dillon Brooks has found his name in the headlines quite a bit recently. When the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors squared off last week, Brooks and Draymond Green went at one another both literally and figuratively. The showdown had it all -- big runs, trash talk, and even a heated face-to-face between Green and Brooks.
At halftime, Brooks took shots at Green during his courtside interview with TNT, which led to further comments about Green's podcast after the game. After the outspoken Grizzlies forward called his podcast "cute," Draymond Green fielded questions from reporters about the beef.
Now, Brooks has taken aim at Kyrie Irving, hoping for a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks star ahead of their Saturday-night showdown. He was quoted by ESPN as saying:
“Now I can get him by myself today, so I want to see what he’s all about. He had a couple of words for me in Brooklyn, so I can’t wait to pick him up full every time and see him get exhausted,” Dillon Brooks said.
Naturally, fans had some hilarious reactions to the comments.
Dillon Brooks is hoping for a Kyrie matchup tonight 😅
“Now I can get him by myself today, so I want to see what he’s all about. He had a couple of words for me in Brooklyn, so I can’t wait to pick him up full every time and see him get exhausted.”
(via @espn_macmahon) https://t.co/VmuD8EN2zF
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon He wants smoke eith everyone lol
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Dillon Brooks the new Pat Bev?
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Bro kyrie is gonna COOK him, he better hope he doesn’t have to guard him 🤣
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Dillon Brooks https://t.co/h2FwmdwTKy
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Ja is gone for a couple games and Dillon Brooks has suddenly become the face of the Memphis Grizzlies??? What is happening???
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Who the hell keeps asking him questions
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Can y’all please stop interviewing this man I beg
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Dillon Brooks https://t.co/psnLbwdZQD
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Kyrie would do unspeakable things to Dillon Brooks if he’s guarding him😭😭😭
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Kyrie seeing Dillon Brooks guarding him: https://t.co/KiQJgm039g
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon https://t.co/46FtlZs32w
@LegionHoops @espn_macmahon Kyrie tonight https://t.co/4Ktr3y6unk
Following Dillon Brooks' continued onslaught on Draymond Green, how did Draymond respond?
Heading into the Grizzlies showdown with the Golden State Warriors, it was well-known that Draymond Green was just one technical away from his 16th. With just one to go before he received an automatic one-game suspension, Green suspected Brooks was hoping to bait him into a technical.
With the Warriors fighting to stave off the NBA Play-In tournament, Green's presence is needed on the court. Had he been baited into his 16th technical of the year, he would've found himself in a position similar to Brooks, who has already racked up 16 technicals.
Heading into the weekend, Dillon Brooks continued his verbal onslaught on Draymond Green, speaking in an interview with ESPN about his dislike of the Warriors vet.
"I don't like Draymond at all. I just don't like Golden State. I don't like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too," Dillon Brooks said. "His game is cool — with Golden State — but if you put him anywhere else, you're not going to know who Draymond is.
"He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that's why they like him over there," Brooks said.
On an episode of his Draymond Green Show, he fired back at the outspoken Grizzlies player, saying:
"I, quite frankly, wouldn't like a team that beats me all the time either.
"You talk a lot now, so if you'd have four rings, sure, you talk a lot more. Four All-Stars? You probably talk a bit more. Defensive Player of the Year? You damn sure would talk more. Two Olympic gold medals?" Draymond Green said.
Fortunately for fans, the teams will match up once more before the end of the season, on Saturday, March 18 in Memphis. With things close in the West, it will be interesting to see how things play out as the season winds down.