Memphis Grizzlies Guard Dillon Brooks offseason was unlike any other rookie that was transitioning into year two, and that is okay for the Grizzlies.
Dillon Brooks is entering his second season in the NBA, and coming off a season that he recorded big minutes in all 82 games you would think that Brooks would want a break. If you guessed that, you’d be wrong. Brooks was everywhere the game of basketball was being played this offseason, and that is good for the Grizzlies.
I spoke with Brooks on the Memphis Grizzlies annual Media Day about his eventful offseason playing for Team Canada, and his time with Marc Gasol and Pau Gasol in Spain. While you can read our own AJ Salah’s article on Dillon Brooks offseason in Canada here, his eventful offseason didn’t end there.
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Brooks talked with me about after his time with the Canadian team had ended, what he had plans for. Brooks originally had joked about making the trip to Barcelona, Spain to work with Marc Gasol if Marc payed, but Brooks didn’t really think it would come true.
“I remember making plans for me and several of my buddies to take in Summer League with the Grizzlies in Vegas, and then Marc called…” Brooks recalls how Gasol reached out to him. Extending an invite to one of the Gasol’s biggest charity games ever. “It was crazy because he could’ve invited anyone else” Brooks continued. “Omri (Casspi) was there, and he looked good,” Brooks talked about his new Memphis Grizzlies teammate. “Then we got to see the competitive Marc like when we were down 10 and trying to pull it together and that was awesome” Brooks laughed.
Brooks also ended with letting everyone know that Marc owes him a home cooked Paya that Marc promised before his visit.
Brooks sounded like he enjoyed his time in Spain with the Gasol brothers, and the star packed group that joined them. “I had fun with Jimmy, and the guys” Brooks talked about playing with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jimmy Butler.
Following his trip to Spain, Brooks then took in the end of the Memphis Grizzlies Summer League run in Las Vegas. Sitting court side at several of the Grizzlies games in support of his teammates.
To conclude the offseason, just like the 15 other guys on the Memphis Grizzlies roster, Brooks took in a ‘players only’ minicamp in Los Angeles with his teammates that was also Marc Gasol’s idea.
This offseason, Dillon Brooks ate, slept, and breathed basketball which is a beautiful thing to see from a professional athlete. Even better that it is a young Grizzly.