Rockets' Dillon Brooks fined $25K for below-the-belt contact

New Houston Rockets wing Dillon Brooks has been fined $25,000 for making contact with Indiana Pacers centre Daniel Theis in the groin area during a pre-season game on Tuesday, the NBA announced Thursday.

The native of Mississauga, Ont. got a bit overzealous trying to dodge under a screen set by Theis and ended up reaching his hand into Theis' groin area, causing the centre to take a breather while grabbing at the region in the first quarter.

Brooks was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected in his first game with his new team.

After the game, Brooks suggested that because of his history, he has a target on his back.

"It's weird, every time it happens to me I get picked on, but I guess it's just part of my reputation," Brooks told reporters after the game. "What's my name? My name is Dillon the Villain."

Brooks developed his negative reputation while with the Memphis Grizzlies. He racked up 44 technical fouls in the last three seasons, fourth most behind Draymond Green, Luka Doncic and Trae Young.

This also marks the seventh time in his career that he has been ejected, with the last coming in the playoffs against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, starting a notable beef between the two players during their Round 1 series.

His reputation for being unafraid to "poke the bear" didn't scare away the Rockets from offering him a big deal as he landed a massive four-year, $86 million deal from the team looking to expedite its rebuild.

He finished last year averaging 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 steals but also shot a poor 39.6 per cent from the field. However, he was a key contributor during Canada's bronze-medal run at the FIBA World Cup, averaging 15.1 points on a much improved 59.4 per cent from the field and 58.8 per cent from deep.