Dillon Brooks Living Up To New Contract For Houston Rockets

Eyebrows were raised across the league when the Houston Rockets inked guard/forward Dillon Brooks to a massive four-year, $86 million contract this past offseason. Despite being one of the league’s best wing defenders, Brooks’ former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, reportedly had no interest in bringing him back. There was no reported second suitor (other than the Rockets) during free agency. Many observers wondered if this was a massive overpay.

Those murmurs have all but completely died down. Brooks’ contract pays him $22.63 million this season, a sum which constitutes 16.64% of the Rockets’ total cap. He has been worth every penny.

Entering games played on Monday night, the Rockets possessed the league’s stingiest defense, boasting a defensive rating of 106.8. Even with the hiring of new head coach Ime Udoka, that’s a statement no one in their wildest dreams thought would be made on November 27, 2023. Houston was 29th in defense last season. Brooks is a massive part of that turnaround. With his powerful build and relentless approach, Brooks has taken on the task of guarding the opposing team’s best player every night. His physicality is a boon in Udoka’s switch-heavy system where Brooks can sometimes be found taking on opposing big men with no help.

But it’s not just on defense where Brooks is thriving. He’s averaging 13.4 points per game so far this season and shooting a blistering 46.4% from long distance on 4.0 attempts per game (47.1% overall). That’s a massive jump from his career average of 34.6%; Brooks shot just 32.6% on 3s last season while with Memphis. Despite being one of the senior veterans in the Rockets’ lineup, Brooks has also been more judicious with his shot selection this season, averaging just 10.0 field goal attempts per game. Over the last four seasons, Brooks averaged 14.8 field goal attempts per game. Brooks’ usage is down as well, to 18.2%, from 21.8% last season with Memphis.

Brooks is under contract through 2026-2027 when he will still be just 31 years old. Due to the descending nature of his contract, Brooks will make $19.99 million that season. With the amount the total salary cap is expected to rise by that point in time, as a result of increased league-wide revenues, Brooks’ contract will likely look like even more of a bargain by that point, particularly if Brooks’ production continues at its current rate. Rockets brass hopes its young team is in contention as well by that point.

For now though, Brooks hopes to continue to prove the naysayers wrong as he helps the Rockets carve out a new identity.