Spencer Dinwiddie, who was traded to the Mavericks at last month’s deadline, wants to erase any impression that he wasn’t a good teammate with the Wizards, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Dinwiddie signed a three-year, $54MM contract with Washington during the offseason, but never quite meshed with Bradley Beal in the Wizards’ backcourt. There were reports that he wasn’t popular in the locker room, and he said in January that his attempts to be a team leader weren’t well received.
“I think that’s what hurt the most,” Dinwiddie said after tonight’s game. “I’ve never bashed Washington. I’ve never said an ill thing about the team. In fact, I thank the owner or chairman Ted [Leonsis], I thank Tommy Sheppard the GM and I thank [Beal] for those three kind of collectively deciding to give me my contract. They didn’t have to pay somebody coming off an ACL.
“I’m appreciative of that, appreciative of my time there. … So to be bashed out on the way out the door hurt my feelings for sure. I think I’m human, of course.”
Dinwiddie has become a valuable sixth man in Dallas, averaging 22.2 points and 6.0 assists since the All-Star break while shooting 57.1% from the field. The Mavericks are 6-1 in the games Dinwiddie has played, and he says he’s glad that coach Jason Kidd has given him the freedom to aggressively attack the basket.
He also pointed out that things also started well for him in Washington, where he averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 assists per game and served as a dangerous clutch-time shooter as the team started the season 10-3 . However, he slumped badly as his time with the Wizards wore down, shooting 27% and scoring just 8.4 points per night as the team lost eight of the final nine games he played.
“I was fighting through for those guys,” Dinwiddie said. “When the role changed and they wanted me to pass more — they felt like I was scoring a lot — I did that. I took my foot off the gas scoring-wise because that’s what they felt — the team needed to get [Kyle Kuzma] and [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] and those guys shots. I said, ‘Look, I already got paid. This is about y’all trying to get the shots that y’all need, whatever.’
“So to get kind of kicked out the door was a wild feeling. I hadn’t really experienced that before. But I still have nothing ill to say other than, yes, it hurt my feelings. But just like anything else, you become cautiously optimistic about your new situation. So far, it’s a great fit. I love what they ask me to do here, which is get in the paint, and I’m going to continue to do that and continue to try to be of service.”
OK in his own words Dinwiddie said ….
“ When the role changed and they wanted me to pass more — they felt like I was scoring a lot — I did that. I took my foot off the gas scoring-wise because that’s what they felt — the team needed to get [Kyle Kuzma] and [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] and those guys shots. I said, ‘Look, I already got paid. This is about y’all trying to get the shots that y’all need, whatever.’
Now who said all thru FA what Dinwiddie can do for Knicks. As long as he was healthy. He knows NY so he can play here. Man I’m good. Unfortunately the way Randle has been this yr. It would of made things tough for him too. It’s crazy he said exactly what I said he could do for us. Ballers !!!!
Randle won me over last yr. But it’s coming out now. That he’s not the player he was last yr. Something I’ve been saying most of the yr now. He’s got to go. And Knicks have to find a true PG that can run offense. Not stop offense. And if Thibs can’t see this. Then he’s got to go too. And I’m a Thibs guy. But I’m not going down with Randle. He’s got to go.
Yeah you said all that about Dinwiddie and were right. I actually digged that idea too.
Dinwiddie is the kind of guy which can play in multiple ways and adapt his game. He also seems mature and what you want in a leader. I think he would’ve been great for dealing with Randle and helping him be himself and also accepting to Barrett and the rising talent he is.
Thing most folks here don’t know. Is he played as a leader on Nets. He killed the Knicks in MSG all the time. Fans hated him. So he is not scared to play there. That to me is a huge thing. Cause we all see Randle now falling apart from that pressure. That’s why I wanted him too
Those stats aren’t even correct. 18.8 points 5.8 Assists and 60% from the field since the break.
It’s actually last 5 gms. When was all star gm ???? All star gm was Feb20. Yes they are right
The stats in the story include Saturday’s game — the ones you listed are pre-Saturday.
6 games, 27′, both guard spots, PER 21, onoff +15, BPM 4.5, Rtg +24, TS% .664, 3pt46%
Per 36′, 19-3-6.4
Wiz don’t want that, screw’em
But why offer the contract if they rejected him after the hot start? The urge to lose?
But why bad mouth him. When all he did is what they asked. I read stories. That players said he was a shell of himself. Those were plain lies. Makes no sense to do that. I asked for Fournier and Dinwiddie. Got one. Unfortunately Randle would probably mess it up anyway. Dinwiddie was the Nets closer. That’s who we need. Fournier would get better looks too.
I thought the Nets had something going a couple years back with Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, D’Angelo Russell, Joe Harris & coach Kenny Atkinson but they blew it all up. I guess Kyrie Irving & Kevin Durant were too enticing to pass up.
Yup they went for the gusto ……
Sadly he was doomed from day in WAS! Once they traded their best player for a bunch of nobodies… what can you expect, right?
Also it is very clear by now that playing with Beal can’t be easy, he didn’t mesh well with Optimus Dime, neither with Russ, now with SD… I think Beal might be the guy who is holding down the team, last year they were very good without him, just Russ & the kids!
Soon enough Beal will have issues with KP6 mark my words!