Why Rockets' Dillon Brooks is 'Just Like Kobe Bryant'

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks channels his inner Kobe Bryant during Canada's bronze medal run during the FIBA World Cup.

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks has had many ups and downs in the past year, but arguably the biggest high came Sunday in Canada's 127-118 win against Serbia at the FIBA World Cup third-place game in Manila, Philippines.

Brooks scored a game-high 39 points on 12 of 18 from the field, including 7 of 8 from the three-point line. The performance was a result of the chip that has been slowly growing on his shoulder throughout his whole career.

"It's just like Kobe Bryant... He had to figure out how to create the Black Mamba, a different persona when he comes on the court," Brooks said. "I guess that's my persona—The Villain."

Brooks signed a four-year, $86 million contract with the Rockets in July after six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he boasted some strong performances, but was ultimately discredited for it towards the end of his tenure due to his on-court struggles.

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Back in May, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the Grizzlies wouldn't bring back Brooks "under any circumstances." The declaration came after Memphis' first-round upset loss in the playoffs to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers ... in which Brooks lived up to his self-proclaimed "villain" role.

Making fun of LeBron, as he did during that series, backfired ... and made Brooks look silly - so much so that the Grizzlies literally announced their disinterest in re-signing him.

Brooks is known to be a talker. He's been that way since entering the league, calling out players before and after games — regardless of who they are. It's the biggest reason for his public downfall, but despite the harsh backlash he's received, he isn't sorry.

He's far from it, actually.

"That's who I am and that's what I'm going to be," Brooks said during his team's battle with the Lakers. "At the end of the day, it's just competition. Most people are scared to compete, and that's why they get rattled or feel some type of way when I play against them."

Now, it appears Brooks is on his revenge tour ... which resumes next month with the rebuilding Rockets as they also look to get back up after falling down.