New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew criticism over the weekend from an unlikely source: Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, who mocked the democratic socialist as a “mayor playing president.”
Responding to the mayor’s video on X, the nine-year NBA veteran suggested Mamdani was more concerned with appearances than governing, labeling the mayor’s talking points as performative.
Kyle Kuzma No. 18 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks to drive against the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on Jan. 19, 2026. (Getty Images)
Kyle Kuzma No. 18 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks backcourt during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Fiserv Forum on March 5, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wis. (Getty Images)
“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,” Kuzma wrote, quote-tweeting Mamdani’s address.
The response came after Mamdani released a video calling for the arrest of Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court warrant ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
“A mayor playing president. A founder playing operator. A content creator playing one-on-one, thinking he’s a pro. A 25-year-old with a ring light playing economist. Everyone auditioning. Nobody building. We’re raising a generation that is learning the reward isn’t in doing the thing; it’s in looking like you did the thing.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a still image taken from handout video released on July 21, 2026. (Reuters)
“The clip is the career. The pose is the product. The soundbite is the substitute for a life’s work. Don’t fall for distractions.”
The comments were in line with Kuzma’s growing reputation as one of the NBA’s few active players willing to publicly challenge progressive political ideas, a lane many of the league’s most prominent stars have largely avoided.
The same video also generated support from elsewhere in the NBA.
Days earlier, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama were seen liking Mamdani’s Instagram post, in which he called Netanyahu “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people” and urged authorities to arrest him if he enters New York City.
OutKick contacted representatives for both players for comment but did not receive a response.
Mamdani has faced sustained criticism from Jewish organizations and political opponents over his rhetoric on Israel, accusing them of genocide.
KYRIE IRVING, VICTOR WEMBANYAMA LIKE MAMDANI’S VIDEO CALLING NETANYAHU A ‘WAR CRIMINAL’
Israel rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction, while Netanyahu has repeatedly denied the court’s allegations.
Although Mamdani previously directed the city’s legal department to examine whether New York police could enforce the warrant, he later acknowledged that the city has no legal authority to arrest visiting foreign leaders.
Kyle Kuzma of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after being called for a foul against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)
Critics have argued Mamdani should instead focus on issues inside New York City, including crime, sanitation and housing affordability, rather than weighing in on international conflicts beyond the mayor’s authority.
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Kuzma’s “mayor playing president” dig offered a strong contrast to the support Mamdani’s message received from Irving and Wembanyama, illustrating how the mayor’s rhetoric has divided prominent voices around the NBA.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
