In the classic novel “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes, the title character’s heroic rise to fame and fortune is within the mind of the somewhat madman himself. It’s fitting, then, that despite the novel being written over 400 years old Dillon Brooks’ NBA persona (or perhaps his actual personality) aligns with the exploits of Quixote – at least in the basketball sense. For Dillon is battling to keep swagger and drip alive in an actual world where both items are alive and well…
And it is under that guise that Brooks himself is seeking acceptance for who he is – and what he longs to be.
That pursuit was never going to be fruitful in Memphis the way that “the villain” wanted. In a lot of ways, it was through no fault of his own. The Grizzlies asked too much of Brooks throughout his stint in Memphis. From his selection in the 2017 NBA Draft in the second round to his unceremonious exit in 2023, Dillon was consistently in positions that both inflated his sense of self-importance and limited the scope of what he could be as the Grizzlies improved. With the rise of Jaren Jackson Jr., then Ja Morant, and then Desmond Bane, Brooks’ role with Memphis decreased.
But that didn’t mean such a thing occurred within the psyche of Dillon. He could not reconcile that his story would see a diminished role for the starring character in this setting. And when the two sides parted ways this past summer…well, hell hath no fury like a villain scorned.
From a Houston Chronicle article ahead of tonight’s Grizzlies-Rockets game – the first for Dillon Brooks against his former squad in Memphis.
“It’s like the girlfriend that you used to have,” Brooks said of the Grizzlies this season without him. “You don’t know how good she is until she’s gone.”
Dillon Brooks, noted relationship guru
Like “Don Quixote”, where every unexplainable part of the journey to hero when compared to reality had a logical part within the “story”, Dillon has convinced himself that the Memphis Grizzlies would be better off with him than without him. And maybe in the here and now there is some truth to that – after all, Memphis’ inactive roster could be the meat of a playoff rotation in and of itself. Simply having Brooks’ healthy body (and admittedly stellar defense) would be beneficial in November.
But much of what the Grizzlies front office did this past offseason had more to do with April, May, and hopefully June than it does the holiday season. And Memphis has seen the song and dance of Dillon Brooks in the playoffs to know how that story ends. It certainly wasn’t exclusively because of Brooks that the Grizzlies fell short the last two playoff runs. But Dillon was the inefficient scorer, the puller of Superman’s cape in calling the bluff of LeBron James (and failing to meet that moment). He also was the expiring contract – and the easiest player to point to and say he wasn’t part of the future plan.
And lo and behold, the hero of his own story has an enemy to strike! But of course, again like Quixote himself, context and the confines of real life are the true enemy.
For in reality, the Memphis Grizzlies needed to move on from Dillon Brooks in order to truly grow. To put it in relationship ending terms – “it’s not you – it’s me!”
The leaps in production we’ve seen this season from Desmond Bane as a scorer and facilitator would not have been possible with Dillon Brooks in the mix. Imagine what Brooks would be doing if he were indeed still a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, undoubtedly trying to take it upon himself to try to keep the team afloat. It’s what the team wanted from him as a 2nd round selection out of Oregon back in 2017 and 2018 in his rookie season. It’s what he was in the rookie seasons of Jackson Jr. and Morant and Bane- it’d only make logical sense for him to be “that guy” here as well.
And the Grizzlies offense would not be in a position to take off when (if?) the team gets to full strength.
Much like the exit Jonas Valanciunas before him, Brooks’ departure was necessary. Jonas is a good basketball player whose style of play meant less chances for the young core of Memphis to expand their own roles and games. Dillon, also a good basketball player, saw himself in a greater light than a team trying to contend for a title could afford. Brooks wanted more more Memphis-specific responsibility. He set a tone that was a double-edged sword of tenacity and tomfoolery. With Dillon gone, in the long-term, the “big three” of the Grizzlies alongside Marcus Smart (with a game and perspective more fitting of what Memphis sees themselves as) can fill the void of leadership, spirit, and hopefully build upon the foundation Brooks helped build.
With a current 3-10 regular season record, that seems silly to acknowledge given the current state of play for the Grizzlies. But for Brooks to be what he thinks he is (and be willing to be less than what he was offensively in reality in Memphis), he also had to move along. And the Grizzlies no longer needed their shield – their soldier willing to be on the wall, taking the tough stand when necessary.
Or, when necessary in the mind’s eye of Dillon Brooks.
Memphis and their former “villain” will always have the memories of what was. It was a truly good run, regardless of the potentially hurt feeling and anti-climatic conclusions. While it will be weird to see Desmond Bane defended by Dillon Brooks, or for Dillon to get in the face of Jaren Jackson Jr. while rocking a different colored jersey, in the mind of Brooks it will simply be another chapter of his hero story. The wronged knight, before his new kingdom, showing the worth of his superior skills and the depths of the mistake that his former love made.
It may seem like a Quixote-esque pipe dream right now, but Dillon’s perception may be a short-term reality. And while Brooks and his Rockets may achieve victory in this individual battle, the Memphis Grizzlies have their eyes set on winning the war.
Which is why Dillon is seeking his happily every after elsewhere – and Memphis is watching their stars Bane and Jackson Jr. grow, waiting to claim their own kingdom in a future that seems less certain than ever before.
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