Jamal Murray Breaks Silence After Fellow Canadian Dillon Brooks Gets Ejected for Kicking Him During Suns-Nuggets

Dillon Brooks spent last spring building his villain reputation. He called Jarred Vanderbilt a "dumb" NBA player on a livestream, and a viral clip showed him laughing as LeBron James shot free throws in a Lakers-Thunder playoff game.

So when Brooks kicked Jamal Murray in the groin on Friday, the Nuggets guard's response was far more forgiving than anyone might expect.

"I don't think he really tried to kick me in the di** though," Murray said afterward. He added that he and Brooks are "buddies" and teammates on the Canadian national team, and that he didn't believe the kick was intentional. The play happened Friday night, Oct. 30, in an NBA Cup game in Phoenix that Denver won 127-120.

Brooks attempted a turnaround jumper in the third quarter with Murray guarding. He then kicked his right leg forward as he fell backward, making contact with Murray. He was called for an offensive foul, and Murray writhed in pain on the court before getting up and staying in the game.

Officials reviewed the play and upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, an automatic ejection.

The timing hurt Phoenix. Brooks was leading the Suns with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting when he was ejected. He hadn't committed more than three common fouls before the play.

Murray kept playing. He finished with 39 points and made 7 of 9 from three. The kick didn't change his night, but it added to the long list of Brooks controversies and raised the question of how a player with his reputation is judged.

Brooks has been in this spot before. In April 2023, he was ejected for hitting LeBron James in the groin during a playoff game against the Lakers. Brooks said his hand striking James was an accident while attempting a steal, and he believed his "villain" label played a role in the ejection.

The NBA reviewed the 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 a history of taking shots at opponents, especially when the Lakers are involved. A player known for provocation gets less benefit of the doubt than someone with a clean record, which is the argument Brooks made in 2023.

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.

Neither view cancels the other. 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.