Suns' Dillon Brooks says youth camp focuses on mental wellness, hoops

Nearly 300 youngsters, aged 6 to 16, gathered for the Dillon Brooks Youth Basketball Camp at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa on Saturday, September 12. Brooks, the Phoenix Suns' forward, drew the attention of the enthusiastic crowd with a look of intrigue before the camp commenced. Recently returned from China, where he trained in kung fu and worked with a UFC fighter, Brooks aimed to bring a community-building event to the Phoenix region, focusing on mental wellness and basketball instruction.

In his own words, Brooks expressed the importance of teaching youth mental wellness. "I want to teach about mental wellness," he stated. "I think we have to teach the kids early that mental wellness is important, but we’ll also be teaching kids how to take care of their bodies, nutrition, and how to stretch." Brooks, who averaged 20.2 points per game in his debut season with the Suns, recently inked a three-year, $73 million contract extension, ensuring his stay in Phoenix until the 2029-30 season.

Following a short press conference, Brooks jumped straight into engaging with the camp participants. With the help of instructor Scott Nicholson, Brooks demonstrated proper passing techniques for the young athletes to drive towards the basket and attempt lay-ups. Nicholson echoed the significance of such camps on the community, noting, “It brings the kids together. Getting to teach them about basketball is great. These camps are big, and with a star like Dillon, it just brings more people out.”

Trish Sinclair, a mother of two boys, was thrilled to bring her children to witness their favorite player and participate in their beloved sport. “It’s just really exciting,” she remarked. “The boys love the Suns, they love basketball, and they love Dillon. So, when we heard about the camp, we jumped on the chance, we got here early, and the boys are happy, and so am I.” The Phoenix Suns’ training camp commences on Tuesday, September 29, followed by their first preseason game on October 5 against the Detroit Pistons. The regular season kicks off on October 21, facing the Portland Trail Blazers.