Dinwiddie returns to B’klyn in good humor

Spencer Dinwiddie is back in Brooklyn — and so is his sense of humor.

Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith joined the Nets on Tuesday after they were acquired from the Mavericks in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Dallas. And when Dinwiddie, who played for the Nets from 2016-21, walked into their introductory press conference, he noted, “Hey, there’s more of you than there used to be.”

He explained the acquisition of him and Finney-Smith: “I understand that we might not be the best trade package, but we’re the best looking. And the Nets need some help in that department.”

Clearly Dinwiddie has kept the same wit he flashed during is first stint in Brooklyn. In some ways, it was his torn ACL just three games into his final season off 2020-21 that set the Nets down the path they’ve been on. That season-ending injury precipitated the Nets’ trade for James Harden.

Dinwiddie was traded to Washington in August 2021, then moved on to Dallas, and now is back where his ascension to legitimate NBA starter began.

“That was crazy cause we were rolling people through preseason, through the first couple games, I got hurt, then obviously the trade went down, understandably so. Being in win-now mode, when you’ve got possibly the greatest scorer of all time. It’s a blessing to play competitive basketball,” Dinwiddie said. “I have no interest in playing losing basketball and understand the type of talent we have.

“It’s gonna be fun, and yeah to a degree it is a second bite of the apple. And although I wanted to win one for Dallas, obviously there’s a certain level of pride there would be to bring a championship to Brooklyn over any other organization in the league. … It’d still be more prideful doing it here, just because in a lot of ways it made my career. So, proud to be back, happy to be back and always appreciative.”

➤ Ben Simmons returned to the court for the Nets 116-112 loss to the Suns after missing five straight games with left knee soreness. It didn’t go swimmingly.

He finished with just two points, six assists and four turnovers in 26:30. He shook off a twisted ankle, but acknowledged his knee is going to be an ongoing issue he’ll have to manage.

“It’s been a process just getting back out there and trying to find some rhythm. … But it felt good. Just give to the team any way I can,” said Simmons, who twisted his ankle trying to guard center Deandre Ayton in the middle of the second quarter. “Its sore, but I’ll be fine.”

Simmons, who checked out with 4:47 left in the second, finished the game but was walking with a limp afterwards. He said he hopes it doesn’t swell up.

“It’s a little swollen, but I’m happy with an ankle sprain over anything with the knee or back,” said Simmons. “So I’ll take this over anything else”

That anything else is his knee flaring up, something that he admits is related to the herniated disk that kept him out all last season.

➤ The Nets acquired the draft rights to David Michineau, 28, from the Kings in exchange for Kessler Edwards and cash. Michineau, who was drafted by the Pelicans in the second round in 2016, plays for Napoli Basket in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A. … Two-way David Duke Jr. will participate in the G-League Next Up Game on Feb. 19 (3 p.m.) during All-Star Weekend.