The Washington Wizards were quick to move on from Spencer Dinwiddie, their biggest free-agent acquisition in 2021. He was acquired in a massive sign-and-trade deal to take over the starting point guard spot from former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, but things didn’t pan out as planned.
By the end of his tenure in Washington, it was being reported that his teammates no longer wanted to play with him. Dinwiddie was having his struggles, but this is someone who missed all but three games of the 2020-21 season because of a torn ACL. While a player can return in a calendar year from such an injury nowadays, it usually takes about a year for them to start feeling like themselves again.
“People said I was a bad guy, people said I was washed, all that stuff after 30 games coming off an ACL, which sucks,” Dinwiddie said. “But Nico didn’t have to have that faith. He didn’t have to pull that trigger, especially with a player the caliber of Porzingis, an All-Star-caliber player. Like I said, I was appreciative of him.”
Getting closer and closer to that point, Dinwiddie is beginning to look more and more like his old self with the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas acquired Dinwiddie, along with Davis Bertans, from the Wizards in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Steve Nash Reveals Odds Of Ben Simmons Playing This Season
Desperate for another ball-handler, the Mavericks took a chance on the beleaguered Dinwiddie and it has certainly paid off thus far. Overall, Dinwiddie’s numbers are up across the board and he has helped the team win.
Dallas is 10-2 with Dinwiddie in the lineup, picking up impressive victories over the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors twice, Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.
Dinwiddie was big in the most recent victory over the Nets. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning 3-pointer, which must have felt great against one of his old teams.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Steve Nash Reveals Odds Of Ben Simmons Playing This Season
How general manage Nico Harrison made him feel is certainly part of the turnaround for Dinwiddie, as he feels wanted and appreciated in Dallas.
“It’s a credit to him, because as a superstar it’s within your power, within your control,” said Dinwiddie, who scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as Dallas rallied from a 12-point deficit. “You can make people feel wanted, you can make them feel not wanted. You can trust them, not trust them. … He’s the superstar. He could have done whatever he wanted.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Steve Nash Reveals Odds Of Ben Simmons Playing This Season
Spencer Dinwiddie has become an integral part of the team’s rotation right away. He has accepted whatever role is needed on a given night, starting games and coming off the bench. Dinwiddie is providing exactly what the Dallas Mavericks needed, especially with Tim Hardaway Jr. rehabbing an injury.
