Another roller coaster season for Dinwiddie, who has been in and out of Dallas in dramatic ways
Spencer Dinwiddie has always exuded confidence in his role and ability to contribute, but it would have been impossible last summer for the 32 year old guard to predict where his role with the Dallas Mavericks ended up this season. While his second stint in Dallas did not reach the levels they aimed for Dinwiddie seized opportunities to show he can still be a solid supporting guard for future contenders.
Season in review
Dinwiddie came back to Dallas after a few years of bouncing around. You’ll recall he arrived in Dallas in the return from the Washington Wizards deal for Kristaps Porzingis, a season that later ended in the Western Conference Finals. He was then shipped back out the following season to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Kyrie Irving. This time around Dinwiddie played scoring guard support behind Irving and Luka Doncic, often battling time for Quentin Grimes.
Dinwiddie’s game has tailed off some, a carry-over in evidence from his time with the Los Angeles Lakers last year. But he still provides punch off the bench in doses. And to his credit, especially in a season where injuries were rabid and morale was even lower, Dinwiddie playing in 79 games this season deserves praise. While he remained a spot starter even after the trades that sent Doncic to Los Angeles and Grimes to Philadelphia (he started 30 games), his production grew from February to the end of the season. He was never able to be the distributor they needed, and his tendency was often to revert to hero ball, but Dinwiddie still has moments where he can get to his spots as a scorer that should be an asset to a team looking for depth.
On the season Dinwiddie finished averaging 11 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists with a disappointing 33.4-percent from three — a lower mark than his last stint in Dallas.
Best game
If the Oklahoma City Thunder go on to make a deep playoff run or win the title, basketball historians will look back and left that this team who won 68 regular season games but somehow lost to the Dallas Mavericks three times. Back in January the team was without Doncic due to injury, but they still battled mightily. And it was in that stretch they beat OKC twice in less than a week.
There were several factors playing into those games but Dinwiddie was impressive in the second, scoring 30 points while adding three assists. But his efficiency is really what jumped out: 11-of-14 from the field, 8-of-8 from inside the arc, while hitting all three free throw attempts. The win feels like a relic from a time we’ve now lost.
Contract Status
Dinwiddie’s deal last summer was a one-year veteran minimum deal that expires this offseason.
Looking ahead
It’s hard to say whether Dindwiddie has played his last game in Dallas. Giant question marks hang over every aspect of the franchise and the direction general manager Nico Harrison has taken them. His insistence that they are in win-now mode would suggest players like Dinwiddie would be needed for veteran depth and experience. But it wouldn’t be shocking if Dinwiddie’s preference is to distance himself from a place that has been dramatic every step of the way.
Grade: B-
If Dinwiddie were just asked to do what he signed up for this would have been a good season for him. His failing three point shot hurts, especially for an aging guard playing in spurts. And alas, he was tasked with more than playing that role.