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Memphis Grizzlies' Desmond Bane engaged in a verbal exchange with his former teammate Dillon Brooks in the clash against the Houston Rockets. The game saw Brooks playing his first game in Memphis on Friday and the clash ended with the Rockets clinching a 103-96 victory over their counterparts. Not only this, but the win over the Grizzlies marked Rocket’s fifth straight victory.
Needless to say, the clash was filled with several controversial incidents, including his stare-down at his former teammates. Notably, Brooks was acquired by the Rockets in the off-season as part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the Grizzlies. Brooks had also expressed discontent over being perceived as a scapegoat for his former team’s previous season's challenges.
In Friday’s game, Grizzlies’ Bane got into an altercation with Brooks during the fourth quarter. Brooks spent his first six years in the NBA with the Grizzlies after the team drafted him in the 2017 NBA rookie draft. The 27-year-old finished the game with a total of 26 points, seven rebounds and three triples. He also shot 10-of-20 from the field as well as had a block and assist. After the game, Brooks said that he never wants to lose to his former team in his career.
Brooks said, “I don’t want to lose to Memphis ever in my career. That’s regardless of how we get it, if I go get 20 or if I have 0 points. I wanna win every single time we play Memphis just to let them know that they made a little mistake.”
Brooks receives emotional welcome from former team in return to Memphis
Brooks received an emotional welcome at the FedExForum as fans gave him a standing ovation in his return to Memphis as a member of the Houston Rockets. Not only this, but the hosts paid tribute to their former player with an emotional video during the first quarter of the game. The video featured highlights of the player’s career, to which he reacted emotionally. In addition, the home crowd acknowledged Brook’s contribution to the team with a standing ovation.
After the game, the player said, "Felt like I was right back at home. The emotions and everything were there."
