Suns' Dillon Brooks Takes Shot at Thunder Ahead of Playoff Matchup

The Phoenix Suns star criticized the Oklahoma City Thunder for 'foul baiting' ahead of their first-round playoff series.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:20am

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After the Phoenix Suns clinched the final playoff spot in the Western Conference by defeating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Play-In Tournament, Suns forward Dillon Brooks took a shot at the team's first-round playoff opponent, the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder. In a postgame interview, Brooks criticized the Thunder for 'foul baiting' and expressed hope that the referees would 'treat it like the real playoffs' with fewer fouls called.

Why it matters

Trash talk and rivalries are common in the NBA playoffs, and Brooks' comments will likely add extra intensity and drama to the upcoming Suns-Thunder first-round series. The Thunder are the defending champions, so the Suns will be looking to pull off an upset, and Brooks' criticism of the Thunder's playing style could further motivate both teams.

The details

In the postgame interview on Amazon Prime, Dillon Brooks was asked about the Suns' upcoming playoff matchup with the Thunder. Brooks did not hold back, saying 'There's a bunch of foul baiters on that team' and expressing hope that the referees would 'treat it like the real playoffs and there's not too many fouls' called.

  • The Suns clinched their playoff spot by defeating the Warriors in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Dillon Brooks

A forward for the Phoenix Suns who made critical comments about the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of their first-round playoff series.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The defending NBA champions who will face the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“There's a bunch of foul baiters on that team. Hopefully the refs treat it like the real playoffs and there's not too many fouls.”

— 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 Sunday, April 20th.

The takeaway

Dillon Brooks' critical comments about the Thunder's playing style will likely add extra intensity and drama to the upcoming Suns-Thunder playoff series, as the Suns look to pull off an upset against the defending champions.