The Dillon Brooks experience is as polarizing as it gets in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers narrowly escaping it on Sunday with a tight 116-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns served as a prime example of that.
Brooks clearly got under the skin of the Lakers, and particularly LeBron James, throughout the night. It was ineffective, until it wasn't. The Suns stormed back, feeding off that energy, and nearly forced a disastrous collapse.
Lance and Joakim dreamed of getting under his skin this bad😭 https://t.co/lNc75aPp8a
— Kenny (@Kennyduhballern) December 15, 2025
Brooks hit the go-ahead 3-point shot to put his team up in the dying moments of the ball game before shooting himself in the foot with a technical foul that got him ejected. There was truly no better representation of what it means to have someone like him on your team.
The Lakers can have a good laugh at the outcome, and be rightfully annoyed at being on the receiving end of Brooks' game. However, the positive impact of his strong personality setting a tone and culture is clear. It quietly gives Los Angeles a blueprint for how to get the most out of this season.
Lakers need their toughness to set the tone for championship contention
There is never a full need to go as far into antagonism as Brooks does at times. When you overdo it, the price to pay is clear.
"I mean, s***, he brought his antics and tonight it cost him. So, yeah, that’s all I can say,” Jarred Vanderbilt told Dave McMenamin and other reporters after the game.
However, its effectiveness is not without merit. There are even better examples of how setting that tone leads to positives for your own team. The Oklahoma City Thunder would be that case study.
The Thunder's perimeter defenders have a reputation of tough, physical defense. With that comes a certain level of leniency for how referees tend to officiate them. It is an aspect of the game that can frustrate fans, but it does ultimately prove effective.
The Lakers have a couple of players who should be able to help them in this department. Vanderbilt forced his will during his minutes on the court, finally breaking free of the bench. Marcus Smart has long been exactly this type of player too.
Smart was even touting the importance of this approach all the way back in October. The Lakers guard knows how much of a difference it makes.
“The toughest team sets the rules, that’s the motto," Smart said.
Have the Lakers always executed? Not quite. At the very least, not with enough consistency.
On Sunday, even with the late slippage, the Lakers had one of their better defensive games on the whole of this year against the Suns. Los Angeles has a defensive rating of 116.5 this season, hovering just outside of the bottom-10 in the NBA thus far, ranking 20th.
If the Lakers want to keep trending in the right direction, there are a ton of aspects that will need correction. Bringing the right type of energy each night will certainly aid the cause.