Dillon Brooks was quick to make headlines in his new role with the Houston Rockets, but not in the way he or the team would have hoped. It took just four minutes and 33 seconds of preseason basketball for Brooks to receive his first ejection as a member of the Rockets. The incident led to the NBA issuing him a $25,000 fine for a low blow on Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis.

The NBA announced the fine with an explanation that Brooks was penalized for “recklessly making contact with Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis in the groin area.” In basketball lingo, this essentially translates to Brooks hitting Theis in the crotch during a Pacers-Rockets preseason game.

Dillon Brooks made headlines with his preseason ejection, but it’s not the first time his actions have stirred controversy. Brooks recently joined the Houston Rockets during the offseason in a four-year, $80 million sign-and-trade deal after spending six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. His tenure with the Grizzlies ended with a well-known feud with LeBron James, which brought him a fair share of attention.

If you’re experiencing déjà vu hearing the words “Dillon Brooks groin strike,” it’s because he had a similar incident involving LeBron James during the NBA playoffs. This latest low blow against the Indiana Pacers’ Daniel Theis seems to be another chapter in Brooks’ contentious history on the court.

Dillon Brooks, who acquired the nickname “Dillon the Villain” during his feud with LeBron James in the playoffs, has often been a controversial figure on the court. He expressed frustration with the media portraying him as a villain and suggested that his reputation may have made him a target in the league.

Regarding the incident with Daniel Theis, Brooks defended his actions by claiming he was merely trying to navigate around Theis’s screen. It’s clear that Brooks is no stranger to on-court altercations and doesn’t shy away from the physical aspects of the game.

“I tried to navigate a screen, I might have tapped him below the waist. But you know he got right back up,” Brooks said. “I don’t know, it’s weird that every time it happens to me I get picked on. But I guess it’s just a part of the reputation.”

Dillon Brooks has shown no intention of altering his aggressive style of play as he transitioned from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets. His gritty approach to the game has been a hallmark of his playing career, even when it led to confrontations like the one with LeBron James in the playoffs.

The Rockets, aware of Brooks’ playing style, acquired him during the offseason as part of their plan to provide veteran leadership to one of the NBA’s youngest teams. Brooks, along with former Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, is expected to contribute his experience to the team, despite his occasional controversial moments on the court.