Brooks’ work ethic reshapes Suns as Booker sits, Green nears return
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Veteran forward Dillon Brooks has quickly become a cultural centerpiece in Phoenix, helping lift the Suns to a 24-17 record after last season’s 36-46 finish, according to an ESPN.com profile by Tim MacMahon.
Brooks, signed last summer after leaving Memphis, told ESPN he was determined to avoid fading from the league. “I didn’t want to fall off,” he said. “I knew that I had to put in the work to be better every single day.”
Teammates and executives credit that approach for the team’s turnaround. “He’s in the gym more than anybody that I know,” guard Collin Gillespie said. “You want to not let your teammate down when you see that.”
Owner Mat Ishbia called Brooks “exactly the type of player” the franchise wants, praising his shooting volume before practice, leadership, and toughness. “He’s been even better than expected,” Ishbia added.
Injury updates
Star guard Devin Booker is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game at Madison Square Garden with the left ankle sprain that sidelined him in Thursday’s loss at Detroit. Guards Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and Jamaree Bouyea (concussion) remain out.
Green, limited to two appearances this season and last active on Nov. 8, is “looking more and more confident,” center Mark Williams said. Head coach Jordan Ott cautioned that the third-year guard will face a minutes restriction once cleared. “His speed, his ability to attack off the dribble—we need him, but we need him healthy,” Ott noted.
Brooks believes Green’s return will give the Suns “a big spark,” though the lineup shift could move Gillespie, currently starting, back to the bench.
Source: Hoops Rumors
