Spencer Dinwiddie has had a series of wild takes recently, from calling Brooklyn Nets teammate Kevin Durant the best scorer of all time to calling him a 7-foot shooting guard — a height that has been dispelled and a position he hasn't played since his rookie year.
The Nets guard also recently explained why Durant returning at 80% would be like getting back a Dirk Nowitzki — effort to claim that a Kevin Durant near full capacity is still that much better than the next player around.
Dinwiddie had some explaining to do after this comparison was questioned:
😪… so here we go, I’ll explain this again for hot take Twitter. The question was revolving around what a less athletic KD could possibly look like because of how serious an Achilles injury is, especially for Bball players. https://t.co/lCmZuTJnCn
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) May 29, 2020
Dinwiddie made sure to note that he doesn't know exactly where Durant is in his rehab, but he then went on to explain why KD at 80% would be similar in style to Dirk:
At 80% athleticism or so, which takes away his hyper mobility/dexterity for a 7fter. Who has a game that was built around mid post iso, pick/pop, a unblockable left foot turn around fade and overall extreme revolutionary proficiency in terms of a jumper/touch at that size.
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) May 29, 2020
Sounds a lot like Dirk to me… and at the end of the day we’re comparing clear cut HOFs. Y’all acting like I said dirk was a bum or something 🤦🏾♂️ @TermineRadio
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) May 29, 2020
Dinwiddie's clarification helped, but he has had a lot of clarifying to do lately, including for something he said in a recent interview on FOX Sports 1's “Speak For Yourself” earlier this week:
7ft, 2guard (as in SG). Lol but the rest of that yes! Just clarifying so y’all don’t think I just exaggerated this mans height 😑 https://t.co/R9QBcmtjgP
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) May 27, 2020
Dinwiddie's respect for Durant is pretty high up there. That much is known.
He was also one of the main proponents for the former MVP coming to the Nets after a rocky third season with the Golden State Warriors.
Yet these claims feel wildly unnecessary for a player who won't return for the next few months — whenever the 2020-21 season gets underway after a halted 2019-20 campaign.
To his point, a Kevin Durant at 80% still has superstar potential. Unlike other stars, his game has been tailored around skill more than athletic prowess.
Even if he lacks that blow-by step to get past his defenders, Durant's jumper is among the most lethal in the league — similar to a Dirk Nowitzki in his prime.
Nowitzki was never known for being an athletic player, yet he was able to dominate at his position as a 7-foot sharpshooter. Dinwiddie got that much right in his comparison.
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