Outspoken Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks threw some shade at Luka Doncic and two other players that he considers to be the worst foul baiters in the NBA. Brooks was asked about the topic since the league has received criticism for the stars drawing too many fouls. Superstars realize that they can manipulate the rules and get many free throws from the officials. Brooks often defends opposing teams’ best players to make his opinion worthwhile here.
The following names were listed by Brooks as the worst NBA foul baiters:
“Three top foul baiters: Shai. Luka Doncic and he’s probably number one. Trae Young.”
Brooks ranked the worst foul baiters as Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Young as the top three in the league. Doncic has a negative reputation for yelling at referees and demanding foul calls too often. One common criticism is that Luka often refuses to go back on defense if he’s arguing a call and it allows the other team to score easily.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the most popular name to get criticized for foul baiting all season long. The Oklahoma City Thunder became a villain to many fans by playoff time due to officiating. Young is the most surprising name since others get mentioned before him, but most would agree he plays for foul calls.
Other Names That Should Have Been Mentioned
Brooks specifically named the players that he guards since he often defends the lead guard on the other teams. However, he still didn’t name other guards known for foul hunting like James Harden and Jalen Brunson.
Harden is often considered the greatest foul baiter ever since he used that style of play to become an MVP and led the Houston Rockets to title contention. Brunson has been viewed as a top foul baiter over the past few seasons during his ascension as a superstar.
Today’s big men can also be called out for flopping. Nikola Jokic has received similar complaints to Doncic for arguing with referees too much demanding foul calls. Brooks’ teammate named fellow center Joel Embiid since he’s another player most known for causing defenders to get in foul trouble when he’s healthy.
Does Luka Doncic Deserve The Brooks Slander
Stats do back up Brooks’ claim that Doncic has become the top foul baiter in the league. Luka averaged a league-best 10.1 free throws per game last season in his first full year with the Lakers after the infamous Dallas Mavericks trade.
Deni Avdija and Gilgeous-Alexander are the only two names to come within one free throw per game behind Doncic. The star power of Luka and the perk of playing for arguably the most popular franchise will help him get calls easier than his peers.
Brooks is not off the mark with his commentary, especially since Doncic complains about it more than anyone too. Many fans would rank Shai over Luka since his game is predicated by driving to the paint. Brooks deserves to have his opinion respected as a rare defender who welcomes every challenge as a defensive matchup.
Dillon Brooks Disses Luka Doncic As Number One Foul Baiter