Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks drew laughs at the team's media day by joking about targeting NBA referees, a comment that follows his league-leading 17 technical fouls last season. Brooks then shifted to a serious discussion about the Taoist philosophy he learned during a summer trip to China, aiming to channel that focus into his on-court role. The Suns are looking to reverse their recent form, having lost four straight games including a 122-131 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 28.
At the September 28 event held at the Mortgage Matchup Center, a reporter asked Brooks what he could apply from kung-fu lessons taken in China. The forward couldn't resist a jab at officials. "If anybody pisses me off, I'm going to give them a drop kick, especially the ones that are wearing stripes," Brooks said. He led the entire NBA in technical fouls during the previous campaign, a fact that gives his quip an extra edge.
Brooks quickly turned serious, though. He explained that his real takeaway from the trip was the opposite of aggression. The experience provided him with a new mental framework he plans to use during the grueling NBA schedule.
Brooks spent part of his summer studying Taoism, a Chinese philosophy centered on living in harmony. He described it as focusing on "a positive, active attitude of living in harmony with the eternal force that guides the universe." For him, the practical application is about simplification and centering.
"I learned how to center myself, simplify my life and focus on what I need to focus on," Brooks stated. He called it "the pure way of living" and acknowledged the challenge of maintaining that mindset amid NBA travel and media scrutiny. Brooks plans to use techniques like meditation in his hotel room to stay focused before games, integrating this calm into his aggressive playing style.
The team's need for composure and focus is immediate. Their recent results have been tough, with the last five games showing a record of 1 win and 4 losses. That lone victory was a 135-103 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder back on April 13. Since then, they've dropped four consecutive contests.
The skid includes a 119-84 loss on April 19, a 120-107 defeat on April 23, and a 109-121 loss on April 25, all against the Thunder. Their most recent outing was another loss to Oklahoma City, falling 122-131 on April 28. Before that series, they were handled by the Los Angeles Lakers 101-73 on April 11.
Brooks's blend of fiery competitiveness and a search for inner peace will be a subplot to watch. If he can harness the latter, it might help cut down on the technicals that hurt the team. His evolution could be a factor as Phoenix works to stabilize its performance after a difficult stretch. The Suns will need every player, including their outspoken forward, locked in and focused on the court.
