Dillon Brooks gives back to Houston by hosting Thanksgiving event

On the basketball court, Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks is a menacing figure. In each matchup, his goal is to get inside the head of his opponents while making them dislike him.

Last week, he took time out of his pregame warmup to stare across the court at Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. It was a gesture to let him know that despite their history, he was not shying away from his self-proclaimed nickname of “Dillon the Villain.”

Yet, away from the court, Brooks is a quiet, peaceful person who loves to give back to the community and help the less fortunate, as he displayed on Wednesday by hosting and catering a Thanksgiving meal for 150 families at the Fort Bend Boys & Girls Club.

“It is very important,” Brooks said when asked about showing fans his other side. “It is not all the ‘rah-rah-rah’ basketball player. It is the giving, more down-to-earth Dillon who loves to give back and wants to really get to know Houston and Houston nation.”

In answering questions, Brooks glanced at all the families in attendance and reminisced about being in a similar situation growing up. Brooks’ inspiration for playing professional basketball and giving back to the community is from former NBA player Jamaal Magloire.

“I just remember I used to have a picture of him growing up,” Brooks said Wednesday afternoon. “He gave me the idea of wanting to be a basketball player and to strive for something more.”

“I feel like I came from the same thing, lived around the same people,” Brooks concluded. “Helping kids with anything. Being there as a role model, having their back, always visiting. Just showing who I am throughout the community and what I am about.”

Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire