MarShon Brooks was often benched and ridiculed by Avery Johnson for not playing enough defense.

“It was a valuable lesson,” said Brooks, who was averaging just 11.6 minutes before Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It was very humbling. Obviously, it’s a new opportunity, just have a chance to go out there and show that I can play defense. That’s huge for me.”

Brooks is hoping for something different with P.J. Carlesimo at the helm.

“I always felt it would come around when Avery was here. I always felt like it would come around,” Brooks said. “I just had to continue to work, and then when I got my opportunity, just show them I’m not as bad a defender as you think I am.”