Dillon Brooks Returns to Suns After Accepting $52M Less on New 3-Year Deal, Per Report

After only playing one year for the Phoenix Suns, it seems that the team was pleased with the way Dillon Brooks performed. In Brooks' first season in Phoenix, he averaged 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals.

Clearly impressed by the numbers he put up, NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Suns offered Brooks a three-year deal worth $73 million.

"Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has agreed to a three-year, $73 million contract extension through 2029-30," Charania reported on X. "Brooks has become a key part of the Suns' two-way, hard-nosed culture under Jordan Ott and lands a new guaranteed long-term deal."

What Charania failed to mention was how Brooks took $52 million less than what he could've received in his new contract. Other sources reported that Brooks was eligible for a maximum four-year extension worth $125 million.

While he could've easily agreed to the generous offer, Brooks took it upon himself to sign the team-friendly deal.

Sources reported that the 30-year-old forward wanted to prioritize his status as one of the Suns' locker room leaders rather than selfishly taking money that could've been used to secure other key players to help the team contend for a title.

Looking at the numbers, Brooks will be making more or less $24.3 million annually. That's a couple more million compared to his previous annual salary.

NBA World Compares Dillon Brooks' New Contract to LeBron James'

After playing nine years in the league, Dillon Brooks has cemented himself as one of the most tenacious players in the NBA. However, one honor he has yet to achieve is becoming an NBA All-Star.

Despite the lack of reaching that level of stardom, the Phoenix Suns surprisingly value him as a star after offering him a $73 million contract on Wednesday.

This turned a lot of heads and raised many eyebrows. While there's no questioning that Brooks can be a valuable asset on the hardwood, is he really worth the amount he was given by the Suns?

BasketballNews noted how the NBA world is now comparing Brooks' fresh contract extension to LeBron James' contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Earlier in July, James agreed to a two-year contract worth $8 million. That's $65 million less than Brooks' deal.

With that in mind, some are questioning why the Suns forward is making more than LeBron.

For those unaware, James deliberately took a pay cut to prioritize helping the 76ers optimize their roster to hopefully result in a championship-winning squad.

While Brooks technically also took a pay cut, we can't say for sure if he had the same vision in mind as LeBron. It's also worth noting that the 76ers had very little to offer James.

They were $3.4 million away from getting past the first apron. The King's $3.8 million in his first year allows Philly to remain in the first apron.

Had the circumstances been different, we wouldn't be surprised if the 76ers had willingly offered James' initial asking price of $52 million.