Landing at #76 on ESPN’s top 100, the polarizing wing is silencing critics through defensive grit and culture-shifting leadership as Phoenix prepares for a high-stakes playoff push.
The NBA regular season is less than one month away as of 9/22, which means the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns campaign is right around the corner.
The second season under head coach Jordan Ott begins on October 21, with a road game against the Portland Trail Blazers on the docket.
This also happens to be the second season in Phoenix for polarizing wing Dillon Brooks, who is doing his job of putting the franchise back on the map at the time.
The career-best season by Brooks in 2025-26 reflects on how he is viewed around the league, as evidenced by ESPN ranking the 30-year-old #76 in their top 100 players heading into the season.
This is absolutely an earned placement for Brooks, who is thriving in yet another change of scenery. The 45th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft flew under the radar pre-draft before emerging with the Memphis Grizzlies.
A messy finish to the Memphis tenure brought the Canadian native to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets saw a major turnaround in Brooks' first season as a member of the team, reflecting that his ability to be a culture-changer isn't a flash in the pan.
One thing that has become clear over the years is that the metrics don't necessarily love Brooks. While his counting stats are always well above average, there are areas of concern - such as taking far too many "long-distance" two-point shot attempts.
However, the statistical profile of the soon-to-be 10th-year vet cannot be ignored. He is a valuable shotmaker, a perimeter stalwart on the defensive side of the ball, and one of the more slept-on players in the clutch across the NBA.
Beyond the two-way impact is Brooks' intangibles. Many of the players in the 50-100 range in the league break that threshold by bringing elite intangibles to the table. In Brooks' case, his consistent energy, ability to inspire a locker room, and physical edge gift him an advantage over other wings in his tier.
There are absolutely points of critique that might keep Brooks away from working his way into sub All-Star territory. Despite this, the wing is absolutely a top 100 player in the league, and will be a driving force towards Phoenix's push for another playoff berth.
Brooks is the only Suns player in ESPN's 50-100 range, ultimately putting pressure on him to contribute to a grand scale this season.
