NBA star Kyle Kuzma blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for “cosplaying” as president over his empty threat to arrest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Milwaukee Bucks forward, a frequent critic of progressive politics, said Mamdani’s video address last week proved he is more concerned with “content” than running America’s biggest city.
“This is 2026. People cosplaying as things they don’t have the authority, the talent, or the track record to actually be. Just for content,” the NBA veteran posted on X Sunday afternoon in response to Mamdani’s clip.
“A mayor playing president. A founder playing operator. A content creator playing one-on-one thinking he’s a pro. A 25yr old with a ring light playing economist. Everyone auditioning. Nobody building,” he continued.
“Were [sic] raising a generation that learning the reward isn’t in doing the thing it’s in looking like you did the thing. The clip is the career. The pose is the product. The soundbite is the substitute for a life’s work,” he said, concluding with “Don’t fall for distractions.”
Kuzma — who is not Jewish, but has spoken out on antisemitism before — later defended himself from critics of his post ripping the mayor’s fake threat.
“But somehow, I am a Zionist because I’m pointing out things that are happening in front of everyone’s face, but hey, that’s okay,” he shot back.
Mamdani posted a video on social media last week calling Netanyahu a “war criminal” for Israel’s actions in Gaza — but admitted he has no authority to arrest the Israeli leader during his trip to the Big Apple for the UN General Assembly in September.
The International Criminal Court [ICC], which the US does not recognize, issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest in 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The socialist mayor said that despite his administration reviewing “every avenue available” to find a legal loophole to take Netanyahu into custody, they don’t have the authority.
“As I’ve said, I agree with the ICC that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes, as I do for anyone else charged by the ICC,” Hizzoner said.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.”
The video statement came a day after President Trump vowed that Netanyahu “will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”
Kuzma, 31, has emerged as one of the NBA’s loudest critics of progressive politics, according to Fox News.
His comments are a stark contrast from fellow league stars, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and the San Antonio Spurs seven-footer Victor Wembanyama, who both liked Mamdani’s controversial video on Instagram.
While Kuzma himself is not Jewish, he has been supportive of his former Washington Wizard teammate and friend Deni Avdija, who was born in Israel.
“Jewish wedding [sic] are a movie actually,” he posted on X in response to a video of himself partying at Avdija’s wedding in May. “Baruch Hashemmm.”
He also voiced his support for the Jewish state on the day of Oct. 7. 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel that started the military conflict in Gaza.
“Just terrible stuff happening right now and my prayers with them!!” the hooper, who won a ring with the Lakers in 2020, wrote.
Last month, Kuzma slammed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ proposal to give the public 50% ownership of artificial intelligence companies.
