New guard Spencer Dinwiddie told reporters that Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was the first person to call him when Dinwiddie was waived by the Toronto Raptors — and that call counted for a lot.
Dinwiddie chose the Lakers over the Dallas Mavericks shortly after entering free agency.
“Let’s say you’re a kid and you get your ass whupped by the bully,” Dinwiddie said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Dallas would have been like your mama, like, ‘It’s OK, baby.’ … Lakers are like your dad: ‘Nah, you better go out there and fight ‘til you win.’”
Dinwiddie, 30, was traded to the Raptors from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
He is averaging 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists, shooing 39 percent from the field and 32 percent on 3-pointers, all with the Nets. He carries NBA career averages of 13.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
With the Lakers, he’s expected to come off the bench behind the likes of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. That said, coach Darvin Ham indicated he could use all three of them (Dinwiddie, Russell and Reaves) all at the same time, likely next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Whatever the case, Dinwiddie wanted to set the record straight on who recruited him to LA. Namely, not former Mavs teammate and current Lakers center Christian Wood.
“How the hell are we going to give C-Wood the credit? … I’m giving the credit to Bron,” he said, via McMenamin.
The Lakers had a child-size Lakers No. 26 jersey waiting for Spencer Dinwiddie’s son, Elijah, when he reported to the practice facility for the first time. And that detail is what made it all feel real for the L.A. native coming home. pic.twitter.com/ejWMMq0Zky
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 12, 2024
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