Inside The Nets

Spencer Dinwiddie is Still Adjusting to a New Role in Brooklyn

The Nets have struggled with injuries to start the 2023/24 season, which has led to inconsistencies in the lineup.

Peter Sunjic

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With the Brooklyn Nets’ well-documented injury troubles, the team has struggled to find consistency. They’ve lost some significant players in the first few weeks of the season, but there are some issues beyond the injuries, with Spencer Dinwiddie's dwindling role being one of them.

In the first nine games of the 2023/24 season, Dinwiddie is only averaging 8.4 shots per game which is a far cry from his 13.3 during the 2022/23 campaign. He is not getting the touches he was used to in the previous season which is mostly because of Cameron Thomas' emergence and Ben Simmons returning to his old playmaker duties.

“He’s still wrapping his head around how he fits into the different lineups he’s been in, which is definitely understandable,” Vaughn said in his post-game presser after the win over Washington. “But that’s a part of growing together as a team. We’ll continue to learn about the best position to put him in. But he has an extreme ability to impact second group, first group, small and big lineups.”

Dinwiddie will likely play a bench role when everyone is healthy

With Thomas becoming the team’s best scorer, the other guard position alongside Simmons will most likely go to him. At the beginning of the season, Coach Jacque Vaughn initially chose Dinwiddie for the season opener, but as subsequent games unfolded, Thomas assumed the role of the starting shooting guard.

Vaughn has given an inkling that he will likely play Dinwiddie off the bench when Simmons is healthy. That will be a jarring move for Dinwiddie since he has gotten used to being a starter for most of his teams. The last time he was primarily a bench player was when he was backing up D’Angelo Russell during their stint together in Brooklyn back in the 2018/19 season.

Spencer is likely to handle the change positively, given his team-oriented mindset and commitment to helping the team succeed. Additionally, Thomas has proven to be a remarkable talent, showcasing his excellence earlier in the season with a standout 45-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks before his injury.

Dinwiddie will be effective in any role

Coach Vaughn understands it is a luxury to have a seasoned guard like Dinwiddie on his team. He can be inserted in any lineup as either the primary ball-handler or the leading scorer with his shot-creating ability and spot-up ability.

While Vaughn might be saying that Spencer is still adjusting, he is an experienced professional. He will likely adapt to his role well and help the Nets become a stronger playoff contender.

Ben Simmons is thriving as the Brooklyn Nets’ primary playmaker

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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