Kevin Durant Shrugs Off Dillon Brooks’ Mind Games: “He Don’t Get That Credit”

Dillon Brooks was trying to get under the skin of Kevin Durant during their matchup on Tuesday.

Kevin Durant Shrugs Off Dillon Brooks’ Mind Games: “He Don’t Get That Credit”

Kevin Durant (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Kevin Durant led the Houston Rockets to a 119-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns, extending their winning streak to seven games.
  • Durant dismissed Dillon Brooks' trash talk, stating it does not motivate him and he respects Brooks' approach to the game.
  • The Rockets are currently fifth in the Western Conference with a 50-29 record, aiming for a top-four finish before the playoffs.

Kevin Durant is undoubtedly one of the best to ever play in NBA history. Currently in his 18th season, Durant has shown no signs of slowing down. He led the Houston Rockets with an impressive comeback in the fourth quarter as they registered a 119-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday night.

During the game, Dillon Brooks was trying to get under the skin of Durant in the second quarter with his trash talk and physical defense. But Durant was having none of it.

After the win, Durant brushed aside questions about whether Brooks’ antics motivated him. 

He don’t get that type of credit with me. Maybe some other guys that may turn up cause he talk to them, but he’s not that important, especially with me to get me going. I wake up going and ready to play, but I respect Dillon. I respect what he brings to the game. I think that gets him going more than me. He’s not that much of a concern to me, but I respect how he approaches the game. And that’s valuable to him and that makes him a better player, but for me, it has nothing to do with my game.

Kevin Durant in his post-match media scrum

Dillon Brooks is well known for instigating and getting into the heads of his opponents. The Canadian international has been involved in multiple heated altercations with LeBron James this season. Often regarded as a dirty player for his actions, Brooks tried his usual antics with Kevin Durant on Tuesday, but to no avail.

The two-time champion was left unfazed by Brooks and his behavior to rile him up. As Durant said, Brooks thrives on such moments, while he just focuses on his game. After his antics, Durant drove past Brooks and hit a jumper while Brooks stumbled to his knees as the 37-year-old helped the Rockets rally from an early 21-point deficit.

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets are on a roll

The Rockets seem to be peaking at the right time with the playoffs looming. They suffered a dip in form in March as they struggled with their consistency. But things are looking a lot better now.

Kevin Durant and his Houston Rockets teammates
Kevin Durant and his Houston Rockets teammates (Image via Rockets Wire/X)

The win over the Suns extended their winning streak to seven games. They find themselves in fifth place in the highly competitive Western Conference standings with a 50-29 record. The win tied them with the Los Angeles Lakers, who are in fourth place and have now lost three games in a row.

During their seven-game win streak, Durant has been leading the charge with his scoring. He is averaging 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists during this period. With just three games to go in the regular season, the Rockets will be looking to finish in the top four as they look for home advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Kevin Durant on his return to Phoenix

Kevin Durant spent 2.5 seasons in Phoenix. While he did play well at an individual level, the team did not have much postseason success. In his first season, they were beaten by the eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets, in the second round, and then they missed the playoffs last season. Durant was traded to the Suns in the offseason, but Durant believes he was scapegoated due to their poor results.

The Rockets forward revealed his feelings on his return to Phoenix.

I’m pretty much over it. I definitely loved living here. I don’t think there’s any sentimental value when it comes to me and this place. I wasn’t here long enough to really feel like I left a mark here.

Kevin Durant on his return to Phoenix

While some have criticized Durant for jumping ships too soon, the former MVP has been in fine form in his first season with the Rockets. He is averaging 25.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 76 appearances this season.

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