MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Dillon Brooks is the man basketball fans love to hate, but Canada wouldn't swap him for anyone as they compete in their historic first World Cup semifinal.

Brooks is the troublemaker-in-chief in the Canadian team, using all his dark arts of defending to needle, harass and bully opponents into submission.

It was a role he performed to perfection in Wednesday's quarterfinal win over Slovenia, pushing Luka Doncic so far to the limit that the Dallas Mavericks superstar snapped and got himself ejected in the fourth quarter.

But small forward Brooks, who in July swapped the Memphis Grizzlies for the Houston Rockets, does more than just get under opponents' skin.

The 27-year-old scored 22 points in Canada's second-round win over defending champions Spain, with teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calling his performance "one for the books."

"He's a leader, he does the right things on the basketball floor, he plays with the right energy," Gilgeous-Alexander said.

"He's a guy that you always want on your team."

Brooks embellished his notoriety last season in the National Basketball Association when he clashed with Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

Brooks called James "old" after the Grizzlies beat the Lakers in the second game of their playoff series, then got himself ejected in the next game after hitting the 38-year-old with a low blow.

Brooks was up to his old tricks against Slovenia, getting physical with Doncic and having a word in his ear whenever possible.

The Manila fans cheered Doncic's every touch and booed Brooks, who responded by blowing a kiss to the crowd after nailing an early three-pointer.

Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez said Brooks "had to be better" after getting himself ejected shortly before Doncic, but he could not fault his player for effort.