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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 21: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns pushed back in Game 4, led by their best scorers, and kept it competitive deep into the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City answered every time. The Oklahoma City Thunder completed their first-round series with a performance that left little doubt about where this team stands.
OKC won 131-122 and finished the sweep.
After the final buzzer, the celebration was earned. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had something to say before the night was over.
The villain narrative has followed Dillon Brooks for most of his NBA career.
It is part of his brand, part of his value, and something he has leaned into across stops in Memphis, Houston, and now Phoenix. Brooks plays with an edge that opponents notice and teammates appreciate. Most people outside a locker room see the provocation. The players inside it see something different.
SGA sees something different.
After the sweep, Gilgeous-Alexander spoke about fellow Canadian Brooks with the kind of directness that only comes from genuine respect.
“A great guy no matter what people say about him, he’s a really good guy when you get to know him. All that villain stuff, it doesn’t faze me. I know exactly who Dillon is. He had a hell of a series. Keep getting better, I’m proud of him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
That is one competitor acknowledging another after a week of real basketball.
Shai on Dillon:
“A great guy no matter what people say about him he’s a really good guy when you get to know him. All that villain stuff it doesn’t faze me. I know exactly who Dillon is. He had a hell of a series. Keep getting better I’m proud of him”
The numbers backed up the praise.
Brooks was one of the few Suns who consistently made the Thunder work. In Game 4 alone, he posted 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting, adding a steal, a block, 3 assists, and 4 rebounds while connecting on two threes. He was a problem on both ends in a game Oklahoma City won by nine.
Across the series, Brooks embodied what SGA described. He brought the edge Phoenix needed against a Thunder team that does not rattle easily. The Suns were swept, but Brooks was not the reason. He gave everything the role asked for.
Booker finished as Phoenix’s leading scorer with 24 points, but the Suns could not generate enough around their stars to threaten Oklahoma City’s composure down the stretch.
GettyPHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 27: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns come together after the Thunder victory in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SGA did not have to say what he said about Brooks. The sweep was complete. The series was over. He said it anyway.
That is what genuine respect looks like. Not a calculated media moment. Just one player telling the truth about another after a series that asked both of them real questions.
Brooks answered his. The villain label did not define him here. The work did.
SGA noticed.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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