Spencer Dinwiddie said there wasn’t one single thing that was misrepresented or mischaracterized about his exit from the Nets.
It was everything.
“Everything. Everything,” Dinwiddie said, repeating it for emphasis. “Every single thing. Everything.”
The prodigal son returned to Brooklyn on Easter Sunday, Dinwiddie logging 21 scoreless minutes in his first tilt against the Nets since they dealt him to Toronto at the trade deadline.
He promptly got bought out and signed by his hometown Lakers, who he helped to a 116-104 win at Barclays Center.
Dinwiddie’s exit wasn’t the prettiest, his effort being questioned by many.
In the spirit of the holidays, the guard initially demurred when asked about facing his former team, something he’s usually reveled in over his career.
“It’s Easter Sunday and my mom told me to stand down. I have absolutely zero comment at the moment,” Dinwiddie smiled, before proceeding to comment.
When asked specifically to clear up any misperceptions about his final days in Brooklyn, he simply said he grasped how the business works, that his voice got obscured during his Nets exit but now he’s happy as a Laker.
“I know [the media] obviously have a job to do. And I know that people say what they say from other places, whether it be organization, other positions or whatever. So sometimes obviously, as a player, things get mischaracterized or your voice gets drowned out,” Dinwiddie said. “That’s just kind of the situation I ended up in.
“It was fun guarding primary people while I was here, and it’s fun guarding primary people now. I understand that my 2024 has been largely about playing defense, and on this team it’s been something that’s been celebrated, appreciated.”
After being dealt to Toronto, Dinwiddie got waived on Feb. 8 and inked with the Lakers four days later.
And while he’s coming off the bench and still off the ball, asked to catch-and-shoot, at least now it’s spacing the floor for LeBron James and Anthony Davis aiming for a ring.
“Here, obviously, the two guys to be watching are LeBron James and Anthony Davis, so that’s a completely different type of situation,” said Dinwiddie. “And they were already a good team before I got here. But to play purposeful basketball, though, is a phenomenal experience to be part of. You definitely don’t want to be just kind of flailing in the wind.”
Cam Thomas had 30 points and six assists, both team-highs.
He joined James Harden (2021-22), Stephon Marbury (2000-01) and John Williamson (1977-78) as the only Nets with two 30-point games vs. the Lakers in a season.
Cam Johnson and Dennis Smith Jr. both returned from injury. Johnson had five points in 19:54, while Smith had two points in 3:38.
Trendon Watford (15 points, eight boards) cracked double figures in a season-high fourth straight game.
