Charles Barkley Goes Off on Dillon Brooks For His Antics in 35-Point Game 1 Loss to OKC

Charles Barkley was hoping Dillon Brooks and his Phoenix Suns would put up a better fight against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Charles Barkley Goes Off on Dillon Brooks For His Antics in 35-Point Game 1 Loss to OKC

Dillon Brooks and Charles Barkley (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Charles Barkley criticized Dillon Brooks for his antics during a playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
  • Barkley emphasized the need for Brooks to focus on scoring rather than distractions on the court.
  • Brooks received a Flagrant 1 foul for an incident involving Chet Holmgren, raising concerns about his impact on the team's performance.

There was a time when Charles Barkley became Dillon Brooks‘ fan after the mercurial forward helped the Phoenix Suns establish an identity that has seen them surpass expectations.

The franchise was supposed to take a back seat this year and focus on development while starting a new era under first-year head coach Jordan Ott.

At the same time, Jalen Green‘s absence also gave fans the idea that the Suns would take time to build chemistry. However, Brooks did not let that happen.

All season long, he was the de facto leader of this young squad, and that, along with his performances, led Charles Barkley to support his bid to earn his first All-Star call-up.

However, when Dillon Brooks could not continue his regular-season performance in their first game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the ‘Round Mound of Rebound’ was indeed disappointed. In fact, Barkley was more than disappointed.

The thing about Dillon Brooks is that he can’t come out of those antics. He’s gotta play well… I love Dillon Brooks, but we need points. We don’t need antics. Those are two different animals.

Charles Barkley said

Shaquille O’Neal and the rest of the Inside the NBA crew tried to reason that the Suns need Brooks’ antics to rile up the opposition’s best players. But Charles Barkley wasn’t convinced.

He pointed out that it is, anyway, a difficult task to try to limit the Thunder team to 105 points. Therefore, points are what can make it easier, and Brooks was not providing that.

Dillon Brooks’ antics will not work against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC

Towards the end of that discussion, host Ernie Johnson tried to suggest that maybe Dillon Brooks was trying to unsettle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Image via ESPN Insights/X)

To this, Charles Barkley replied:

This guy is finna win his second MVP, nobody is getting under his damn skin.

He felt that trying to get under the skin of a reigning league MVP and his championship-winning teammates would not work. They know how to win, but the Suns do not.

The former Phoenix Suns great pointed out that even though Jalen Green and Devin Booker are the primary scorers for his team, they need another scorer to put up a fight against their opponents.

Barkley would prefer if Dillon Brooks scored more than the number of antics he had on display. One Flagrant 1, along with the four fouls from one of their most important players, is not the way to play when they lose by 35 points.

Dillon Brooks whacked Chet Holmgren in the face

Dillon Brooks has come a long way from being the laughingstock of the NBA to someone who is finally getting the respect he deserves, even from some of his foes.

However, to continue earning that, he has to keep doing what he has been doing throughout the regular season. Lead them by example. However, for that to happen, he has to keep his cool.

During Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 30-year-old had a moment he could regret down the line.

The father of two was trying to drive toward the basket when the Thunder’s Jalen Williams inadvertently made Brooks lose control of the ball.

When the latter tried to reach out and recover it with his left hand, Chet Holmgren caught hold of it. The Suns’ forward then swung his left hand again, this time catching the Thunder center in the face.

Officials reviewed it and then slapped a Flagrant 1 foul on Brooks. If his antics continue, as Barkley frustratingly pointed out, such unnecessary fouls could set the tone for how he is officiated. That could undermine the Suns.

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