Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Had a Lot to Say About Dillon Brooks After Sweep

Brooks carries a reputation as the league's chief agitator. Phoenix has leaned into it, tasking him with guarding the opposition's best player every night. The assignment did not change against the defending champions. Brooks blanketed Gilgeous-Alexander across four physical games, doing everything in his power to slow down the reigning MVP.

The series grew intense fast. In Game 2, Brooks hip-checked Gilgeous-Alexander on a sideline closeout. Gilgeous-Alexander answered with a mid-range jumper over Brooks, pointing and laughing as he walked away. In Game 4, Brooks earned a technical foul three minutes in for shoving Gilgeous-Alexander after the whistle. 

The chess match between two of Canada's finest also made history. In Game 2, they became the first Canadian NBA players to each score 30-plus points in a playoff game.

With the series closed out, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke to reporters and held no ill will toward his longtime friend.

"A great guy. No matter what people say about him, he's a really good guy when you get to know him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “All that villain stuff it doesn't faze me. I know exactly who Dillon is. He had a hell of a series. Keep getting better I'm proud of him.”

At the end of the day, brotherhood wins. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder march into the Western Conference semifinals against the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series.