Taunts, fouls and $250,000 in fines: Dillon Brooks to be released by the Memphis Grizzlies

According to abcnews.com, Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks has been told he will not return to the Grizzlies 'under any circumstances.'

Brooks and The Grizzlies were knocked out of the opening round of the playoffs, losing to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers last week.

The forward created controversy going into the series, calling LeBron James 'old' and following up by saying, 'I don't respect anyone until they drop 40 on me.'

Abcnews.com stated Brooks was fined $25,000 for not talking to the media after some of Memphis' losses in the opening round.

Brooks was acquired in the second round of the NBA Draft in 2017 by The Grizzlies, but it looks as though his time in the city is over.

Brooks has been the new 'Bad Boy' of the NBA this season, but was there a method behind the taunting, fines, and fouling?

Brooks has called out Dallas superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, he's had a famous feud with the Golden State Warriors, in particular with four-time champions Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and he's taunted All-Stars Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, and James Harden.

With the NBA now sped up and more spaced out, the old and hard-hitting physical basketball from the 80s and 90s is now a thing of the past.

From the combat style basketball of Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn to the more get-in-your-face and pester style of defense with Marcus Smart and Dillon Brooks, the dark arts of defense have evolved.

Brooks' pestering and taunting have led him to become a target for officials in every game he plays.

The Memphis Grizzlies forward leads the league in technical fouls, being called for 18 since the start of the season, resulting in numerous suspensions.

Brooks has grown into his new 'Bad Boy' persona, picking up the nickname 'Dillon the Villain' and reportedly racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of fines.

According to the Legion Hoops Twitter page, Brooks has lost $248,242 through fines and suspensions this season, but Brooks doesn't seem to be bothered, saying, "It's just paper."

Despite the fouls and fines, Brooks spends hours in the film room studying players and officials, focusing on team and individual assignments.

The Grizzlies star focuses on players' tendencies, moods, and tells. What's more impressive is that he focuses on the officiating crew, and what kind of fouls they call, and how 'soft' they are in the game.

According to ESPN, Brooks said, "It's not a job everybody wants, and that's what makes me different. Guys don't like dealing with the physicality."

Despite the preparation and method behind the madness, it was clear the Memphis Grizzlies needed someone to scapegoat for the behavior of some of the players in the past two seasons.

Brooks comes with a lot of baggage, but his defensive presence and his 14 ppg average, will mean he will have NBA destinations to choose from in the offseason.