Spencer Dinwiddie signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 10, 2024, but he doesn't feel he is officially part of the team yet. Dinwiddie hilariously stated he would know that for sure when he gets his designated handshake with LeBron James.
"Nah, I'll know if I'm officially a part of the team when I get a Bron handshake," Dinwiddie said.
Dinwiddie should get one soon enough, as LeBron has a unique handshake with every Lakers player. That's not all either, as James even has a handshake with the team photographer. If I had to guess, LeBron is probably trying to come up with something unique. After all, James was the one who recruited Dinwiddie to join the Lakers.
There was a lot of hype surrounding the signing of Dinwiddie. The 30-year-old was expected to give the Lakers the big spark off the bench, but he hasn't played all that well so far.
Dinwiddie is only averaging 5.1 points, 0.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 0.4 steals per game as a Laker. He has also managed to shoot just 35.4% from the field and 27.6% from beyond the arc.
There isn't really a positive spin to put on that, but it's still early doors. Some players need time to adjust when they are on a new team and it's only if Dinwiddie continues to play this poorly as we get closer to the postseason, that you should sound the alarm.
Spencer Dinwiddie Thinks No Team Has A Higher Ceiling Than The Lakers
Dinwiddie was a sought-after commodity on the buyout market after the Toronto Raptors waived him. The likes of the Dallas Mavericks wanted him as well. but he decided against returning to his former team. Dinwiddie had an odd explanation for choosing the Lakers over the Mavericks, but he also shared that he believes LA has the highest ceiling in the league.
“It’s a team that, when everything’s on the line, they can rise to a level that no other team can get to. Obviously, they won the In-Season Tournament, have won big-time basketball the past couple of years. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain that throughout a whole season, but at the end of the day, they know how to win. That’s what you know. Every night they’re gonna get somebody’s best shot just because of the name that is on the uniform, and obviously, you have arguably the greatest player of all time on the floor as well. So, a lot of guys are gonna give him personally their best shot as well.”
The Lakers are only 34-29 on the season but have already shown that they can rise to the occasion by winning the In-Season Tournament. They were also just 43-39 last season but managed to make it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
There is no doubt the Lakers will be a dangerous team if they make the playoffs. As long as LeBron, who is averaging 25.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game this season, is playing at a high level and Anthony Davis is healthy, you would give them a chance against almost anybody in the West.
The only team I think they don't have a shot at beating would be the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have won the last eight meetings between the two teams and have the Lakers' number as of now.
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