Ex-Grizzlies wing slapped with lofty league-issued punishment

This summer, the Memphis Grizzlies opted not to re-up with long-tenured wing Dillon Brooks after putting forth quite a polarizing 2022-23 campaign.

With the final straw seemingly coming after his “bear poking” fiasco during the club’s one-and-done playoff excursion, it was reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania that GM Zach Kleiman and company would not be bringing back the 27-year-old “under any circumstances” in free agency.

Ultimately, this paved the way for him to agree on a lucrative four-year, $80 million sign-and-trade deal with the Houston Rockets, a move often celebrated as being rather strategic by the Grizzlies.

Now, Brooks will need to tap into his newly minted payday for quite an undesirable reason, for his exhausting shenanigans have seemingly rolled on over into his young tenure in Space City and it, in turn, is going to cost him.

Ex-Grizzlies wing Dillon Brooks fined for recent “below the belt” foul

On October 12, it was announced by the NBA that Brooks would be fined a hefty $25,000 for his flagrant 2 foul committed on Daniel Theis during Houston’s October 10 preseason opener against the Indiana Pacers, an act he was ultimately ejected for.

The league issued a statement noting that Brooks is being penalized for “recklessly making contact” with the big man “in the groin area.”

Though some may view the act as a natural flailing of the arm while trying to fight over a screen, considering his track record it appears the league is not willing to give the former Grizzlies wing the benefit of the doubt.