Dillon Brooks ejected for groin kick on Jamal Murray in Suns loss

Explainer

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks was ejected from Friday night's game for kicking Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in the groin. The incident occurred in the third quarter of Denver's 127-120 victory over Phoenix in an NBA Cup game. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded an initial offensive foul call to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection. Brooks was leading the Suns with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting at the time he was forced to leave the game.

What happened on the play?

Brooks attempted a turnaround jumper while being guarded by Murray. As Brooks fell backward during the shot attempt, he kicked his right leg forward, making contact with Murray. Murray was left writhing in pain on the court for a few moments before getting up and remaining in the game. The initial call was an offensive foul on Brooks, but after a video review, the officials determined the contact warranted a more severe penalty. The play happened on Friday, Oct. 30, in Phoenix.

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What did Jamal Murray say about the kick?

Murray, who finished the game with 39 points and made 7 of 9 from three-point range, defended Brooks after the game, saying he did not believe the kick was intentional. The two players are teammates on the Canadian national team. "No, of course not," Murray said. "He’s shooting the ball. I mean, he might have flopped a little bit, but I don’t think he’s really trying to kick me in the (groin)." Murray added that he and Brooks are "buddies." His response was far more forgiving than many might have expected given Brooks's reputation. The Nuggets guard's forgiving response contrasted with Brooks's established reputation for on-court provocations. Brooks spent last spring building a villain persona, which included calling Jarred Vanderbilt a "dumb" NBA player on a livestream and a viral clip showing him laughing as LeBron James shot free throws in a Lakers-Thunder playoff game. This history of antagonistic behaviour means Brooks often receives less benefit of the doubt from officials than a player with a clean record.

Has Dillon Brooks been involved in similar incidents before?

Brooks has a history of controversial plays involving contact to an opponent's groin area. In April 2023, he was ejected from a playoff game for hitting LeBron James in the groin while attempting a steal. Brooks said his hand striking James was an accident and he believed his "villain" label played a role in the ejection. The NBA reviewed that play and decided not to suspend him. James had a different view then, saying he tried to "protect my crown jewels" and move on.

Brooks has also been vocal in taking shots at opponents, particularly when the Los Angeles Lakers are involved. His argument following the 2023 incident was that a player known for provocation gets less benefit of the doubt than someone with a clean record. In Friday's game, officials made a judgment call in real time and upgraded the play on review. Murray, with the benefit of knowing Brooks personally, made a different one.

How did the ejection affect the game?

The timing of the ejection was particularly damaging for the Phoenix Suns. Brooks was having an efficient night, leading his team with 22 points and having committed no more than three common fouls prior to the Flagrant 2. His removal from the game left the Suns without one of their top performers for the remainder of the contest. Murray, meanwhile, was unaffected in his performance. The kick didn't change his night, but it added to the long list of Brooks controversies. The Flagrant 2 stands, the Suns lost, and Brooks is out of the game, which is the price of the officials' decision. Murray's answer suggests that the person who took the hit believes it wasn't deliberate.

With files from CBC News, Yahoo News and Durango Herald