2023-24 Lakers Player Review: Spencer Dinwiddie
The Los Angeles Lakers are always looking for additions throughout the season that can improve the team and the buyout market is one way they have been able to do just that. In 2024, the team got one of the most sought after players in guard Spencer Dinwiddie who was waived by the Toronto Raptors following a trade deadline deal.
A veteran combo guard who is capable of running the offense and defending multiple positions, Dinwiddie was brought in to bolster the Lakers backcourt behind starters D’Angelo Russell and s.Austin Reave As a Southern California native, it was a dream for Dinwiddie to be able to come home and play for his favorite team.
The guard maintained a consistent role off the bench after joining the team on Feb. 10. It took some time for Dinwiddie to adjust to his role with the Lakers as he saw himself playing more off-ball than he has tended to for much of his career. There were ups and downs, but throughout Dinwiddie maintained professionalism and did whatever was asked of him by the coaching staff.
Overall, Dinwiddie appeared in 28 games for the Lakers, averaging 6.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting a very good 38.9% from 3-point range. And when the Lakers needed him to step up in a starting role he saw his numbers improve, averaging 11.2 points and 4.8 assists in four starts.
2023-24 Highlight
The best game for Spencer Dinwiddie in a Lakers uniform came in his second start for the team with D’Angelo Russell out due to injury. Dinwiddie knocked down 8-of-11 shots from the field to finish with 26 points, five assists and two blocks to help the Lakers to a 150-145 victory over the Indiana Pacers in a ridiculously high-scoring contest. It was a game that proved Dinwiddie was more than capable of delivering in a larger role when needed
Nike didn’t sign Duke basketball’s top prospect Cooper Flagg and that’s a red flag for retired NBA star Gilbert Arenas. In a recent episode of “Gil’s Arena,” Arenas reacted to Flagg signing his endorsement deal with New Balance and to the many people surprised that the NBA’s future top lottery pick didn’t ink a commitment with Nike
“When people are like, I’m surprised he didn’t sign with Nike. Unfortunately, Nike must see something that they didn’t like because when Nike is coming, Nike is coming,” Arena said. “If they wanted Cooper Flagg, there was nothing New Balance was going to do to keep Cooper Flagg from signing. They would throw a bag at you that’s unreal if they think that you are going to be a part of their future. So, unfortunately, he falls under the same category that Jokic fell under, that Embiid fell under, that any big man falls under. Nike doesn’t touch those big guys like that.”
