Dillon Brooks only has himself to blame for all the antics he’s done this season, but I think it’s fair to say that the Grizzlies aren’t blameless in all of this either. It seems apparent they need grown-ups in that organization. Just because Brooks isn’t going to be there doesn’t mean the team itself will change. There are still internal issues they ought to be addresse this offseason. I think Ja Morant is learning to be better and that’s good, but eventually that change and maturity is going to need to be shown next season. Not just by him, but the team as a whole.
[Source](https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/1653445350844436481?t=uyGeYC_Qph0Vwp7ufyeGsg&s=19)
by BigButter7
39 Comments
Nah they said RIP BOZO like the rest of us
Nah Bill I just expected some of their “outside-of-the-court” issues to disappear with Dillon gone.
I think it’s fair to say they really did him dirty and they didn’t need to put that out there.
On the other hand, Dillon Brooks.
Yeah I’ve never seen a team publicly disown a player before free agency just because he played bad
This is the kind of statement you would see if someone had charges pressed against them
this too shall pass.
Two things can be true
Dillon Brook absolutely put himself in this position by his own actions.
It’s shitty for the Grizzlies to publicly shame one of their players and act like the whole issue in Memphis is his fault.
Edit-people have issue with me using “publicly shame”. Take the tweet/article for what you will
The language is so unnecessarily harsh and definitive, I have no choice but to laugh. Especially because homeboy looks like the scapegoat after being a product of the team culture’s creation
Maybe this is the first step to changing the culture. They’re stomping it into the mud with a statement like this.
He’s right. Everyone will blame Brooks, but Ja was just as big of a distraction this past season, and talked the same amount of shit if not more throughout.
Everyone also conveniently glossed over the fact Ja scored 10 points, the same amount as Brooks in that elimination game on worse efficiency. Brooks was at fault, but most of the blame should be put on the franchise player, not a role player.
Kind of agree with Bill here. I don’t think this reflects well on the organization
I don’t understand why everyone’s acting like this is for sure what they said to him word-for-word? For all we know, it might have been a mutual decision, and this is just how Shams worded his tweet?
> just because Brooks isn’t there doesn’t mean the team itself will change
You know the difference between Ja saying “I’m fine in the West” and Brooks saying “I don’t respect LeBron until he drops 40 on me because he’s old”?
Ja plays to the shit talk. He can play like he shouldn’t be worried in the West.
Brooks couldn’t hit an open layup and had one of the worst playoff performances of all time.
Brooks not being there absolutely changes the team. Losing to LeBron in this fashion absolutely changes the team.
I feel like that’s the point?
They know they have internal culture issues, but being so definitive on Brooks lets the organization at least save face a little.
I’m agreeing with Bill Simmons rn wtf. Crazy season. I’m not entirely convinced this is exactly what Memphis as an org has said though, this is coming from a Tweet from a known Lebron lover so it may be a touch salty to the palette
Grizzlies just can’t do anything right according to this sub.
The guy was toxic. His distractions and shit talking far outweighed his talent and it put the entire team into a bad light.
Ja fucked up but he has shown improvement, and he is a generational player. Brooks thinks he is Kobe and refuses to improve his attitude.
Look if Memphis made this statement about a player just because they had an awful performance, then yeah, they’re wrong. But Brooks was a complete asshole who made tons of dirty plays, wasn’t a good role model to the rest of his team, and he impacted how people viewed the organization itself. Combine that with awful play, and I think Memphis has a solid reason to say what they said. Culture matters, and for an organization thats already dealing with Ja Morant’s baggage, dealing with Brooks’ controversies isn’t worth it. That statement seemed like a clear message that they’re trying to move on from a very controversial season.
Dude just spent an entire podcast trashing him. Then they follow your advice. Just admit you hate Memphis Simmons.
It is interesting to see the heinous things some players have done, like legal issues, etc, and it took one man playing so badly with trash talking for a team to publicly exile them
Damn. Never seen an organization go from beloved by everyone to one of the most hated and despised all in 1 season. Crazy
Wouldnt this be a great first step in fixing a bad culture lol
The hornets didn’t disown Miles Bridges this aggressively💀💀
I agree with Simmons on the Twitter and reddit narrative but the local paper article makes clear that the Grizzlies are moving on because Brooks wants to have a lot bigger role than is reasonable.
Was thinking the same thing. Future free agents are going to think long and hard before committing to this team based on how they treat and support their players.
Completely disagree w/ Simmons. Brooks put them in a horrible media situation and they made it clear they were done with his bs.
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Also should note that there has been so much public stuff and I can’t even imagine what has gone on this season behind closed doors.
This move is the biggest thing you can do to change the “culture they’ve created.” Such a dumb take regardless. The “culture” was loved and praised last year. This whole narrative concerning the Grizzlies having some terrible culture is so misleading and contrived. Ja has issues that need to be fixed. With Dillon gone the only issue is Ja. This isn’t some teamwide, organizational issue. The rest of the roster is Bane, JJJ, Adams, Tillman, Clarke, Tyus, Kennard, Konchar, Aldama, Ziaire Williams, Roddy, Laravia, Lofton Jr. Dillon was drafted by the previous organization, but everyone Kleiman has brought in have been hardworking, high character dudes. The only instances I can think of in terms of questionable character are Bane getting into some shouting spats with Georges Niang and Lebron in games last year, and then a 22-year-old JJJ tweeting “strength in numbers” after beating the Warriors one time during the regular season. Nothing physical and nothing that doesn’t happen with every team. Ja has issues, and they need to be corrected, but this whole terrible culture thing is so stupid. Outside of Dillon and Ja these are extremely great guys and now one of the two problems is gone. I can assure you Kleiman, Jenkins, and the organization are going to do all in their power to get Ja on the right path.
Also Bill in 2019: Kyrie quit on the team and is destroying Tatum/Browns development. Trade him now.
Was that the Boston culture back then Bill?
I’m thinking something must have been said during the exit interview from Brooks to management that would illicit this type of response. That’s the only explanation I can think of that would be deserving of this public shaming of Brooks by the Grizz.
Just change WWJD to WWSAD and no one does anything without Adams blessing he sets the standard. Memphis immaturity problem solved.
The fact that phrase was included shows that the problems start at the top.
What do you expect from the team has whoop that trick as their victory song.
Honestly i didnt like that statement. Now everybody hates him, but he always gave his best and even tho our game style changed he gave us back our grit and grind mentality and was here since 2017, which these days is becoming weird for a role player. We totally disrespected him, i believe there’s more than “he sucked we wont sign him”.
Brooks sucks. But I cannot imagine publicly bashing a player while being a small market team that needs more pieces. The free agents are watching, you dumbasses.
They are using him as a scapegoat which is smart from a pr perspective. Years from now nobody will remember than Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr shot a combined 6/28 in an elimination game. It’ll be “Dillon Brooks cost them the series”. Its just like Ben Simmons in 2021. Nobody remembers that Joel Embiid had 21 Turnovers in the last 3 games, or that Tobias Harris shot 8/24 in game 7. Its easier to pin a loss on one guys poor play especially if that guy isn’t very popular. The media and fans eat that shit up.
I don’t know what the fuck happened but I used to love the Grizzlies of Gasol, Conley, Zach, Allen… that team played hard defense but weren’t dirty or sore losers. And they had OJ Mayo, Gay and ZR himself, they could have created tons of shitty situations.
Seems like the org turned into a bunch of entitled zoomers causing problems with no leadership.
Dillon brooks face turn redemption story against former team incoming
Nah I hate dillinger Brooks but they def did him dirty lol
On the other hand I hate him so I’m glad it was him it happened to lmao
The front office speaks thru woj shams gets most of his info from agents. I don’t think the grizz wanted this out
Ja Morant with Eiffel Tower vertical at free throw line to fall hard halfway in the paint.
Dudes an asshole but this was unnecessarily harsh, Ja’s beating up teens and flashing guns in clubs and they forgave him instantly.