[Haller] Dillon Brooks doesn’t shy from controversy or a challenge. That’s why the Phoenix Suns forward had a clear preference on which team he wanted to face next in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament: The Golden State Warriors. And his reasoning was simple. “Steph and Draymond… And Steve Kerr.”

PHOENIX — Dillon Brooks doesn’t shy from controversy or a challenge. That’s why the Phoenix Suns forward had a clear preference on which team he wanted to face next in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament: The Golden State Warriors.

And his reasoning was simple.

“Steph and Draymond,” Brooks said after Thursday’s practice. “And Steve Kerr.”

Behind Steph Curry and Draymond Green, the Warriors defeated the LA Clippers on Wednesday night to advance to Friday’s elimination contest against Phoenix. The Suns have stewed since losing Tuesday night’s Play-In contest against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Friday’s winner in downtown Phoenix secures the Western Conference’s eighth seed and will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The loser goes home.

“We know what’s at stake,” Suns forward Royce O’Neale said.

Brooks’ Golden State preference is no surprise. He has history with Curry, Green and even Kerr, the Warriors’ long-time coach. That history fuels his competitive drive.

In December, Brooks closed out to contest a late Curry 3-point attempt from the corner. While doing so, he struck the Golden State star in the midsection, earning a flagrant foul from the officials and harsh words from the Warriors.

Curry called Brooks’ actions “bush league.” Kerr later said Brooks has a track record of such plays, mentioning a hard foul on Gary Payton Jr. during the 2022 playoffs that resulted in a fractured elbow. Brooks played for Memphis at the time. While the Payton foul was extreme, his methods still spark controversy.

Brooks lives to get inside the heads of opponents. Before a recent game, the Suns’ social-media team asked players who they’d most like to play in a dream 1-on-1 matchup. Most Suns players picked retired superstars. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady.

Always the villain, Brooks said LeBron James. His NBA nemesis.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7203917/2026/04/16/suns-warriors-dillon-brooks-steph-curry-play-in/

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