We’re continuing our Bright Side series by exploring what success looks like for each Suns player in 2025–26.
The addition of Dillon Brooks is something Suns fans should not overlook.
He is everything they have been missing since the departure of Jae Crowder. An instigator. A protector of stars. A starter of scuffles. Brooks is polarizing, no question about it. He is loved by teammates and loathed by opponents.
He is the guy who thrives in hostility, who takes on the toughest defensive assignment, and who does not flinch when tempers flare. For all the criticism he has faced in recent years, there is a truth here that Suns fans know all too well: every good team needs a villain of their own. Phoenix has not had one in quite some time.
Boy, could the Suns have used a player like Brooks alongside Durant and Booker.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 02: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns posts up on Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets during the game at Footprint Center on March 02, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockets defeated the Suns 118-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 02: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns posts up on Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets during the game at Footprint Center on March 02, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockets defeated the Suns 118-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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The chip on his shoulder should only grow with another team moving on from him. At 29 years old, he’s at an inflection point in his career. Does he take a leap and grow into something more, or is he exactly who he is, for better or worse?
Let’s take a look at what a successful season looks like for Dillon Brooks.
The Numbers
The Suns do not need Brooks to be a 20-point scorer. They need him to bring toughness every single night, to set the defensive tone, and to hold his teammates accountable when things get sloppy. If he can deliver that, his addition might be one of the most important steps Phoenix takes in building its next identity.
Last season, Brooks averaged 14.0 points per game, the 4th-highest total of his 8-year career. From 2019 through 2022, he averaged 16.2, 17.2, and 18.4 points per game, respectively.
There will be an opportunity for Brooks to get back to that level, especially coming from a well-balanced Rockets team that had several scoring options. In Phoenix, he lines up to be the third option behind Booker and Green, leaving plenty of opportunity for the former Oregon Duck.
For reference, these are the points per game of players who will be rostered next season in Phoenix. Granted, the context behind these numbers isn’t linear due to drastically different team situations for all.
Devin Booker — 25.6 PPG
Jalen Green — 21.0 PPG
Mark Williams — 15.3 PPG
Dillon Brooks — 14.0 PPG
Grayson Allen — 10.6 PPG
Nick Richards — 9.5 PPG
Royce O’Neale — 9.1 PPG
May 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Dillon Brooks (9) reacts after dunking the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter of game six of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
May 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Dillon Brooks (9) reacts after dunking the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter of game six of the first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
That being said, there could be some more offensive upside that remains untapped. This could be the exact environment for him to showcase his scoring output.
Last season, he shot a career-best 39.7% from three-point range on a career-high 6.3 attempts. That exceeded his career mark of 35.5% by a pretty significant margin. If he can hover in the 37-40 percentage range from deep, then that’s a win for Phoenix.
There is some juice there offensively. I predict around 16.5 points per game this season. Heck, he could even approach the 18 ppg mark if things really click.
Outside of the defense, intangibles, and shooting, one of Brooks’ most important traits for the Suns will be availability. He has played in 72 or more games in three consecutive seasons.
Jalen Green appeared in all 82 games a season ago as well, so adding a pair of reliable, capable NBA starters should help the Suns quite a bit. Booker, Green, and Brooks will be responsible for a massive chunk of the offensive workload.
How much does an increased offensive burden impact his defense? That’s something to monitor, especially in games where one of Booker or Green are out, struggling, or in foul trouble.
The Suns are not asking Dillon Brooks to reinvent himself. They are asking him to bring the toughness, defensive intensity, and edge that have defined his career, but to channel it in a way that elevates the team rather than distracts from it.
If Dillon Brooks can strike a balance on both ends, he could end up being more than just a role player. He could be the heartbeat of a younger Suns roster that desperately needs an identity.
For a franchise in transition, that might be exactly what success looks like.
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