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NBA Coach Name Drops Draymond Green After Kevin Durant Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt John | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 7:09 PM ET

Former Memphis Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks was traded to his newest team on Sunday, as the Phoenix Suns acquired him from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Kevin Durant.

Many have mocked the trade because of how good Durant still is, even at 36 years old. However, even though he's not a star, Brooks has a reputation for helping teams win, dating back to his Grizzlies days. Plus, he just helped the Rockets make their first postseason in half a decade.

Brooks's basketball style isn't exactly pretty, but it gets results. Sometimes, it gets ugly, and that ugliness usually affects opponents, but it can also affect his teams.

Following the trade, Brooks was compared to Draymond Green. 98.7 FM Phoenix's John Gombadoro revealed what an NBA coach told him about Brooks and how he and Green are alike.

“Everyone hates Dillon Brooks until he plays for you," the coach reportedly told Gambadoro. "Said he is dead serious about the game and will do everything you want and need. Can guard 1-3 and sometimes 4. Guards (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), (LeBron James), (Luka Doncic), (Stephen Curry), (Kevin Durant) and even (Anthony Davis)."

The coach added, "Will make shots has improved his shooting. Said he’s like Draymond and does better on good teams because he gets frustrated with losing and that’s when some of his foolishness comes out more.”

Different NBA coach told me “everyone hates Dillon Brooks until he plays for you. Said he is dead serious about the game and will do everything you want and need. Can guard 1-3 and sometimes 4. Guards SGA, Bron, Luka, Curry, KD and even AD. Will make shots has improved his…
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 23, 2025

The Suns didn't get a star back for Durant with Brooks, but they acquired a player who could establish a badly-needed team culture in Phoenix. Trading Durant for Brooks lowers the Suns' ceiling, but it could be the start of something promising for Phoenix.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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