The Brooklyn Nets have been on a search for a franchise point guard since the heyday of Jason Kidd and the two NBA Finals runs of the early 2000s. The search has ended with the emergence of Spencer Dinwiddie.
The Brooklyn Nets came into the season riding high. Jeremy Lin was finally healthy, and they had just traded for D’Angelo Russell. Fans were excited for the season to begin, with as much anticipation as there has ever been to see this potential team play on offense.
But it was not meant to be. Injuries to both Lin and Russell have put them on the sideline for majority of the season. All should have been lost and the Nets should have had a forgettable season once again.
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During this dire situation, there was one player who wouldn’t let the team go into disarray, fourth year point guard, Spencer Dinwiddie.
Dinwiddie was a little-known player before the Nets picked him up last season. He played well, was a steady hand in a lost season and ran Kenny Atkinson’s offense in Lin’s stead. He quickly became a fan favorite and earned the right to come back this season.
This season, Dinwiddie has become a completely different player. He’s done more than just run the offense and has morphed himself into a key player on the team. The Nets have lacked that go-to player down the stretch on offense and Dinwiddie has filled that role.
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His confidence on offense has grown and it shows with the amount of difficult shots he has been willing to take. But Dinwiddie has always been able to score, it is in every other facet of the game that he has stepped it up.
Since taking over as the starting point guard, Dinwiddie has averaged 14.4 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 7.5 assists per game, 0.7 steals per game and most importantly 1.6 turnovers per game. He also ranks 11th overall in assists per game in the whole NBA.
The highlight of that stat line isn’t the point or assists, but the turnovers. Dinwiddie seldom turns the ball over and it has been the key to the improvement of the Nets this season. He knows how to run the offense and does it efficiently.
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Last season, the Nets struggled with turning the ball over at crucial times in tight contests, but not anymore. With Dinwiddie being the primary ball handler late in games, the Nets have been able to run clean sets and get off good shots, increasing their chances at victory.
His cool demeanor has rubbed off on the rest of his teammates. The way that he handles pressure and runs the team has allowed other players to improve. Players like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Caris LeVert and Joe Harris have all elevated their games to new levels because of Dinwiddie’s play. And it won’t stop there.
Wth the return of D’Angelo Russell looming, it begs the question, where will Spencer Dinwiddie fit in? The answer is, he should stay exactly where he is.
He makes every player on the floor better when he is the primary ball handler, and he’d do the same for Russell. A starting lineup of Dinwiddie, Russell, Crabbe/Carroll, Hollis-Jefferson and Zeller/Allen would be a competitive one against most teams in the league. And if Jahlil Okafor can find his way to the floor it will be even better.
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Dinwiddie has proven his value to the team over the past two seasons. And he deserves the chance to start for the remainder of the season. His steady hand and talent will only help to accelerate the rebuild. He has a chance to lead the Nets to success sooner than later.