Spencer Dinwiddie and Quincy Acy arrived in Brooklyn about one month apart during the mortifying 2016-17 season. Dinwiddie in early December, and Acy in early January – both as the ultimate low-risk, high-reward hopefuls.
Dinwiddie was signed to a three-year deal. Acy turned his first 10-day contract into a second, and that second into partial guaranteed contract. They currently have homes in Brooklyn with the Nets.
Most are well-aware by now of Dinwiddie’s impact. He’s no longer one of the NBA’s best kept secrets. The fourth-year guard, who will turn 25 later this year, is averaging 12.8 points and 6.5 assists —14 and seven as a starter. On Wednesday, he had 26 points, nine assists, four threes and a game-winning jumper, which elevated the Nets to victory over the star-studded Timberwolves at Barclays Center.
Acy, who had eight points and three assists against the Wolves in his own right, has watched Dinwiddie’s breakout from its infancy. After the victory, Acy discussed his teammate’s ascension and the 6’6” guard’s huge night.
“I was hurt all summer, so I got a good chance to watch everybody and watch their process and how they approached the game,” said Acy, one of the last Nets in the building, standing a few feet away from Dinwiddie’s empty locker. “Spencer was a guy that really approached the game the right way.”
As Acy watched Dinwiddie lay the foundation for what has become a breakout season, he can only watch his brother today and smile, knowing that success lay ahead in the near future. According to Acy, Dinwiddie has earned it all, and then some.
“He eats right, we’d make fun of him because he’d have a whole plate full of asparagus or just some weird stuff,” Acy said with a laugh. “But his attention to detail, his approach to the game really got him where he is. It’s helped his confidence a lot, he’s playing well, and he deserves everything he’s getting right now. I love to see guys like that succeed. Guys that really work for it off the court, and it’s really showing.”
Prior to Wednesday night, Dinwiddie has seen good and bad in select “clutch” moments throughout the season. There were his heroics against LeBron James (who, quite frankly, he outperformed) and the Cleveland Cavaliers in late October, but there were also regrets and misfires late in games, like recently in Indiana where Dinwiddie didn’t convert in the game’s waning seconds, and probably could’ve had better shot selection.
As made clear by his showing versus Minnesota, he’s lived and he’s learned. Acy’s seen it too.
“He’s a smart guy – he takes that ownership, he listens to the coaches and everybody else,” Acy said of Dinwiddie. “I think that’s a good thing about this family we have. We can all talk to each other and tell each other what we’re seeing. Credit to him because he’s learning from his mistakes and he’s capitalized on his opportunities.”
And credit to his teammates for recognizing it.
- How G-League nobody turned himself into Nets building block - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- BROOKLYN NETS’ QUINCY ACY IS PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME - Alex Labidou - Brooklyn News