Video: Spencer Dinwiddie Explains Signing Contract with Lakers Over Mavericks

Spencer Dinwiddie had the choice of signing with a team he's familiar with in the Dallas Mavericks or the Los Angeles Lakers, and the point guard opted for the latter.

For Dinwiddie, signing with the Lakers made him step out of his comfort zone and take on a new challenge.

"Let's say you're a kid and you get your ass whupped by the bully," Dinwiddie said. "Dallas would have been like your mama, like, 'It's OK, baby.' … Lakers are like your dad: 'Nah, you better go out there and fight 'til you win.' You feel me? I just felt like that was what I needed at the time."

Dinwiddie, who spent the first half of the season with the Brooklyn Nets, has struggled this year compared to his last few seasons. The veteran put up 12.6 points and six assists per game with the Nets, both of those numbers down from last season.

Now starting his journey with the Lakers, Dinwiddie is embracing the fight and will be looking to help Los Angeles secure a playoff spot.

Dinwiddie had a handful of Lakers players recruiting him to Los Angeles—Christian Wood, his former teammate in Dallas, included. According to Dinwiddie, it was star LeBron James who ultimately convinced him to join the team.

"How the hell are we going to give C-Wood the credit? Bro, what are we doing?" Dinwiddie said. "Look, C-Wood was impactful. I'm giving the credit to Bron."

The Lakers were looking to add a ball-handler in the buyout market, and they got exactly that in Dinwiddie. He was initially traded to the Toronto Raptors ahead of the deadline, where he was waived, giving him the chance to sign with the Lakers.

The Lakers struggled through the first half of the season and currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference at 28-26. They've managed to start trending in the right direction, winning three of their last four, and they're looking to continue improving with Dinwiddie now on the roster.

The Mavericks, whom Dinwiddie played with for parts of two seasons, sit just above the Lakers in eighth place in the Western Conference. Taking the deal with the Lakers means Dinwiddie will be chasing Dallas for a playoff spot.