'Lot of Foul Baiters': Dillon Brooks Takes Not So Subtle Dig at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder After Playoffs Berth

The Phoenix Suns forward calls out the Thunder's offensive tactics ahead of their first-round playoff matchup.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:58am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.The Suns and Thunder's first-round playoff matchup promises to be a clash of contrasting styles, with Phoenix's physical defense looking to slow down Oklahoma City's high-powered offense.Oklahoma City Today

Dillon Brooks, the Phoenix Suns forward, has taken a not-so-subtle dig at the Oklahoma City Thunder and their star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ahead of their first-round playoff matchup. Brooks accused the Thunder of being a team full of 'foul baiters' and emphasized the need for the Suns to play disciplined defense to upset the top-seeded Thunder.

Why it matters

The comments from Brooks add some extra spice to what is already expected to be a highly competitive first-round playoff series between the Suns and Thunder. The Suns, as the eighth seed, will be heavy underdogs against the league-leading Thunder, but Brooks' comments suggest they are ready to embrace the underdog role and try to pull off the upset.

The details

After the Suns' win over the Golden State Warriors to clinch the eighth seed, Brooks appeared on NBA on Prime and took a shot at the Thunder's offensive tactics. He specifically called out the Thunder for having 'a lot of foul baiters' on the team, singling out their star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished the regular season near the top of the league in free throw attempts. Brooks emphasized the need for the Suns to 'show their hands' and play disciplined defense to counter the Thunder's driving and foul-drawing abilities.

  • The Suns and Thunder will face off in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
  • The Suns clinched the eighth seed with a win over the Warriors on April 18, 2026.

The players

Dillon Brooks

A forward for the Phoenix Suns who has emerged as a key defensive figure for the team since being traded from the Memphis Grizzlies.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished the regular season near the top of the league in free throw attempts.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The top-seeded team in the Western Conference, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and known for their efficient offense and ability to draw fouls.

Phoenix Suns

The eighth-seeded team in the Western Conference, who will be heavy underdogs against the Thunder in the first-round playoff matchup.

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What they’re saying

“'There are a lot of foul baiters on that team. We gotta show our hands. I hope it's the real playoffs. Show your hands.'”

— Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns Forward

“'We're going to have our hands full with their driving, but you know our close outs and our rotations are great and we'll be able to get them down lower to our shot clock and play our defense there.'”

— Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns Forward

What’s next

The Suns and Thunder will face off in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for this weekend.

The takeaway

Dillon Brooks' comments add some extra intensity to the upcoming first-round playoff series between the Suns and Thunder, with the Suns embracing the underdog role and looking to upset the league-leading Thunder through disciplined defense and physicality.