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Dillon Brooks has earned a reputation as a tenacious and unapologetic enforcer in the NBA, someone you want on your team and don’t want to play against. Ryan Hollins, an ex-NBA player and current Houston Rockets analyst, believes that Brooks has more to offer than what the headlines suggest.
“Dillon Brooks is one of the quietest, most respectful, and just all-around dope teammates you’re going to find,” Hollins told RG. “Behind the scenes, he’s incredibly patient and encouraging. He really takes care of his people.”
“Go Be Yourself. Go Win Us Games.”
Hollins explained that Houston didn’t try to change Brooks, which was the key to unlocking his value.
“They didn’t try to tone him down,” he said. “They said, ‘Go be yourself. Go win us games.’ And that paid off. He was arguably our best three-point shooter and our best defender.”
It’s rare to find empowerment in a league where fiery personalities are often asked to conform. Brooks’ game was embraced by the Rockets, and he made a significant impact on both ends of the court, spacing the court, guarding elite scorers, and adding much-needed toughness to a young roster.
Raising the Bar for the Entire Team
Brooks’ greatest value may be intangible, as he raised the standard of intensity and accountability throughout the team, even though he contributed to the box score.
“At the beginning of the season, Dillon’s intensity was so exceptional that his teammates had to catch up,” Hollins observed. “Once they did, that’s when the Rockets turned a corner.”
The cultural tone-setter was established by Brooks, along with veterans such as Fred VanVleet. Hollins offered a mantra that was both simple and powerful:
“Fred is the offense, Dillon is the defense, and the culture is everything in between.”
The Rockets team embraced grit, hustle, and discipline, and that balance became their identity. The emphasis was not on flashy statistics — it was on impact. Brooks remained focused and energetic by guarding the opposing team’s best player, diving for loose balls, and maintaining the same level of focus, whether they were up 20 or down 10.
A Player Who Leads by Example
Hollins asserts that Brooks is leading in his own way, regardless of his on-court demeanor, through consistency, encouragement, and a selfless mindset.
“He’s not the loud guy behind the scenes. He’s the guy pulling someone aside and saying, ‘You’re good. Keep going,’” Hollins said. “That’s the Dillon Brooks nobody sees.”
Fans and critics alike can get a fuller picture of one of the league’s most misunderstood players through this portrait. Brooks is more than just a name. As a Rockets team strives to return to contention, he serves as a leader, a teammate, and a cultural pillar. And if you ask Ryan Hollins, Dillon Brooks’ true value isn’t just about the defense or energy. The matter in question is the example he sets.
“Dillon set the tone. He raised the standard. And the rest of the team followed.”