Los Angeles Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie was not happy with media coverage of his February departure from the Brooklyn Nets.
When asked what had been mischaracterized about his exit from the Nets, Dinwiddie answered, “Everything. Every single thing,” per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
“Sometimes obviously as a player, like you said, things get mischaracterized, and your voice gets drowned out,” Dinwiddie said. “That’s kind of the situation I ended up in.”
Dinwiddie started 48 games for the Nets before he was traded to and waived by the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 8. He signed with the Lakers four days later.
“Beyond being one of the top assists guys on the Nets, I was one of the top assists guys in the league,” Dinwiddie said, per ClutchPoints’ Erik Slater. “I think I’m top ten clutch assists this year, and not had the volume of the other guys on the list, they’re all max players.
“Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t. People can say what they wanna say about it.”
Dinwiddie attempted 10.4 field goals per game prior to his trade and scored on fewer than 40 percent of them.
Those decreased shooting rates sparked rumors that Dinwiddie no longer wanted to play for the Nets and would welcome a trade from Brooklyn.
Dinwiddie told reporters he had been primarily focused on defense in Brooklyn as well as in Los Angeles, where he is averaging 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game while playing primarily off the bench.
“It was fun guarding primary people while I was here, and it’s fun guarding primary people now,” Dinwiddie said. “I understand that my 2024 has been largely about playing defense, and on this team I think it’s been something that’s been celebrated, appreciated, and I’m looking forward to trying to again, like I said, be a cherry on a top to hopefully a championship run.”