DETROIT — John Collins became the NBA’s most universally celebrated player Tuesday after grabbing Dillon Brooks by the throat during a heated preseason confrontation, league sources confirmed.
The incident occurred during Detroit’s matchup with Phoenix after a stretch of physical play involving Brooks, at which point Collins apparently decided standard conflict-resolution procedures were no longer producing results.
Within seconds, social media users from all 30 fan bases reportedly put aside years of arguments about rings, efficiency, contracts and legacy to agree that Collins had “made some compelling points.”
“We usually need at least a playoff run before someone becomes this popular,” one league observer said. “John got there with one hand.”
Officials quickly separated the players as teammates rushed into the confrontation, while several spectators appeared disappointed that normal NBA de-escalation protocols had been restored.
Collins later returned to basketball-related activities, though sources said his Q-rating had already risen roughly 4,000 percent.
Brooks, meanwhile, was reported to be fine and expected to continue playing exactly the same way, ensuring the league will have additional opportunities to test whether Collins’ new fan base is sustainable.
At press time, the NBA had begun reviewing the footage while millions of fans independently concluded they had seen enough.
