Kyle Kuzma-Spencer Dinwiddie beef, explained: Breaking down the back-and-forth that had NBA Twitter buzzing

Kyle Irving

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Kyle Kuzma-Spencer Dinwiddie beef, explained: Breaking down the back-and-forth that had NBA Twitter buzzing image

To steal a common phrase from NBA Twitter savant Rob Perez, "The NBA has gone zero days since being unnecessarily dramatic."

On Wednesday's episode of the reality TV show that is the NBA, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie hopped on Michelle Beadle's FanDuel show "Run It Back" and rehashed an old spat with his former Wizards teammate, Kyle Kuzma.

Kuzma and Dinwiddie crossed paths briefly in Washington after both players were traded to the Wizards during the 2021 offseason. Dinwiddie only played 44 games in D.C. before being traded to the Mavericks at the deadline in 2022.

He helped Dallas reach the Western Conference Finals last season and played 53 games there this year until he was traded at the deadline again, this time to the Nets in the deal that brought Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks.

How did this beef between Dinwiddie and Kuzma begin? And what was said this time around? The Sporting News breaks down the back-and-forth below.

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Kyle Kuzma-Spencer Dinwiddie beef, explained

When the Wizards faced off with the Mavericks back in January, Washington pulled off a 127-126 win over Dallas behind 30 points from Kuzma.

After the game, Dinwiddie threw some shade at his former team — and perhaps Kuzma in particular.

Kuzma must have felt like he was being targeted by Dinwiddie, as he responded a few hours later on Twitter.

The exchange ended there — until Dinwiddie rehashed his comments on the "Run It Back" show months later.

Dinwiddie claimed he wanted to respond in the moment, but his agent told him not to. He went on to not-so-subtly state, "I'm in the playoffs. [Kuzma] is not."

He took shots at Kuzma for being more driven by fame than the game of basketball, citing his pregame fashion as an example. He bashed Kuzma for being passed off by the Lakers, saying he went to chase more money because he couldn't be their third star.

Dinwiddie told Beadle that, unlike Kuzma, he knows his own role in the NBA because he helped lead the Nets to the playoffs as a No. 2 guy.

It didn't take long for Kuzma to get wind of the soundbite. He hopped on Twitter to address Dinwiddie's points. You can find the complete thread below.

There is... a lot to unpack there.

He started by referring to his former teammate as "Dins—tie," which sets the tone for the entire thread. He then mentioned how Dinwiddie hasn't won anything in the league and has been traded four times.

He checked Dinwiddie on claiming the Nets' playoff run as his own, which is, honestly, a very valid comeback, considering Brooklyn went 11-13 after the trade deadline.

He then brought up Dinwiddie's play at the end of their time as teammates in Washington before dragging him for converting his contract to Bitcoin back in 2019.

Whoa, buddy.

Dinwiddie has not responded back to Kuzma just yet, but stay tuned for more as this interesting beef continues.

Again, the NBA is the best sports reality show on television.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.