Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calls Suns’ Dillon Brooks ‘a great competitor’ after sweep

Throughout the four-game series, both players were intertwined on the court and off it. Brooks publicly said he would isolate against Gilgeous-Alexander and even claimed he “got” him in Game 4. Yet when the dust settled Monday night, Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander embraced at midcourt, shifting the tone between two of the series’ fiercest competitors.

The Thunder star spoke about his Canadian teammate postgame, emphasizing both his competitiveness and his character despite outside narratives.

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

The exchange — and Gilgeous-Alexander’s words — went beyond routine sportsmanship. Both players pushed each other possession by possession, with Brooks bringing his usual edge and Gilgeous-Alexander responding with patience and precision.

There were stares, extra bumps, and the kind of intensity only players with deep familiarity can exhibit in high-stakes games.

For Phoenix, that dynamic carries weight moving forward. Brooks isn’t afraid to go after the league’s top players — even those he shares close ties with. He’s a team-first presence who embraces physical, playoff-level competition from the opening tip and doesn’t get rattled.

For Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, to publicly praise Brooks and highlight his performance reinforces the impact Brooks can have in a series. That edge, even in a loss, is the kind that forces opponents to adjust — and often brings out a higher level on both sides.