{"id":2636586,"date":"2026-07-28T10:43:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nba-star-forward-defies-the-left-blasts-mamdani-as-poser-without-authority-talent-or-track-record\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T10:45:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:45:59","slug":"nba-star-forward-defies-the-left-blasts-mamdani-as-poser-without-authority-talent-or-track-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nba-star-forward-defies-the-left-blasts-mamdani-as-poser-without-authority-talent-or-track-record\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Star Forward Defies the Left, Blasts Mamdani as Poser Without Authority, Talent, or Track Record"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnba-star-forward-defies-the-left-blasts-mamdani-as-poser-without-authority-talent-or-track-record%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2636586&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The content discusses a recent and unusual political action by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who publicly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal, calling for his arrest and declaring him unwelcome in the city. This sparked a critique from NBA player Kyle Kuzma, who mocked Mamdani for &#8220;cosplaying&#8221; as a president without the authority or experience, emphasizing the trend of people adopting appearances or roles they are not qualified for, especially for social media content. Kuzma highlighted Mamdani&#8217;s lack of real power,noting that he called on the federal government to arrest Netanyahu,even though as mayor,he lacks such authority. The article draws past parallels by referencing another new York mayor, Fernando Wood, who in 1861 advocated for secession during the Civil War, despite being wrong and ultimately unsuccessful. The piece suggests Mamdani&#8217;s aspiring political stance may similarly be short-lived, emphasizing the importance of genuine authority and experience in leadership roles.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>It has been a while since a prominent American mayor got so far outside his proverbial lane.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, to find a comparable example, we might have to return to the early days of the Civil War. More on that in a moment.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday on the social media platform X, Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma blasted Democratic Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mamdani-election-bombshell-fraudulent-votes-cast-margin-mamdanis-victory-says-election-auditor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> of New York City for \u201ccosplaying\u201d as president despite lacking \u201cthe authority, the talent, or the track record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is 2026. People cosplaying as things they don\u2019t have the authority, the talent, or the track record to actually be. Just for content,\u201d Kuzma wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA mayor playing president. A founder playing operator. A content creator playing one-on-one thinking he\u2019s a pro. A 25yr old with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nba-star-kyle-kuzma-says-mamdani-is-a-mayor-playing-president\/\" title=\"... star Kyle Kuzma says ... is &#039;a ...&#039;\">ring light playing economist<\/a>. Everyone auditioning. Nobody building,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Kuzma offered those observations in response to a specific action by Mamdani.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the New York mayor posted a roughly two-minute video condemning Israeli Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/zohran-mamdani-popular-among-american-jews-benjamin-netanyahu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> as a war criminal, calling for Netanyahu\u2019s arrest, and declaring him unwelcome in New York City.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani called Netanyahu \u201cthe architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a reason the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest,\u201d the mayor added later in the clip.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani did acknowledge, however, that as mayor he lacks the authority to arrest Netanyahu. So he called on the federal government to do it instead.<\/p>\n<p>No doubt Kuzma objected to the solemn tone of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/fetterman-nukes-clown-mamdani-netanyahu-arrest-threat-mad-killed-terrorists-admire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mamdani\u2019s<\/a> address, the American flag in the background, the hands clasped, elbows resting on his desk, almost as if he were speaking to Americans from the Oval Office.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWere raising a generation that learning the reward isn\u2019t in doing the thing it\u2019s 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\u2019s work. Don\u2019t fall for distractions,\u201d the NBA veteran added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">This is 2026. People cosplaying as things they don\u2019t have the authority, the talent, or the track record to actually be. Just for content.<\/p>\n<p>A mayor playing president. A founder playing operator. A content creator playing one-on-one thinking he\u2019s a pro. A 25yr old with a ring\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/e4aM17CzSC\">https:\/\/t.co\/e4aM17CzSC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 kuz (@kylekuzma) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/kylekuzma\/status\/2081410969356419322?\">July 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kuzmaky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kuzma<\/a> has played nine seasons in the NBA, establishing himself as a consistent scorer and rebounder. His career began with the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won an NBA championship in 2020. From there, he moved on to the Washington Wizards for four seasons before finally landing with the Bucks in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>In May, Kuzma appeared in a video that showed him celebrating at a Jewish wedding with Israeli NBA star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/avdijde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deni Avdija<\/a> of the Portland Trail Blazers. Kuzma and Avdija were teammates for three seasons on the Wizards.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=476&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1344280934228906%2F&#038;show_text=true&#038;width=267&#038;t=0\" width=\"267\" height=\"591\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Mamdani has meanwhile enjoyed a string of political successes. Last month, for instance, he endorsed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/socialists-plot-2028-white-house-run-trio-big-victories-even-causes-constitutional-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">three socialist candidates<\/a> who then proceeded to defeat establishment Democrats in the party\u2019s U.S. House primaries for New York.<\/p>\n<p>Notwithstanding his rising influence among Democrats, Mamdani remains a mayor only.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, before he gets too far over his skis, as they say, he might want to take a lesson from one of his predecessors, a long-forgotten 19th-century Democrat who also had some terrible ideas about things that did not concern municipal government.<\/p>\n<p>On Jan. 6, 1861, Democratic Mayor Fernando Wood of New York City delivered an <a href=\"https:\/\/teachingamericanhistory.org\/library\/document\/mayor-woods-recommendation-of-the-secession-of-new-york-city\/?ref=untappedcities.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">address<\/a> to the Common Council.<\/p>\n<p>More than two weeks had passed since South Carolina seceded from the Union. Modern New Yorkers do not care to remember this, but New York City and South Carolina had strong social, economic, and political ties from the Colonial Era to the Civil War. Thus, Wood thought New York City should follow South Carolina\u2019s lead and withdraw from the Union.<\/p>\n<p>But the New York mayor went further. A pro-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breaking-woke-pope-leo-apologizes-slavery-claims-church-played-role-trans-atlantic-slave-trade\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slavery<\/a> fanatic like most Democrats in his day, Wood recommended secession based on his fine-sounding analysis of national affairs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCalifornia and her sisters of the Pacific will no doubt set up an independent Republic and husband their own rich mineral resources. The Western States, equally rich in cereals and other agricultural products, will probably do the same. Then it may be said, why should not New York city, instead of supporting by her contributions in revenue two-thirds of the expenses of the United States, become also equally independent?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, none of those things happened. California and the Western states remained loyal to the Union, as did New York.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, Wood was wrong, and today he is remembered, if at all, only by historians.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mamdani-gets-reality-check-lawyers-vow-arrest-netanyahu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mamdani<\/a>, too, might one day suffer the same fate.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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To find a similar instance, we&#8217;d have to go back to the Civil War&#8217;s early days. More on that shortly. On Sunday, Milwaukee Bucks player Kyle Kuzma posted on X, criticizing NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for acting like he&#8217;s president without the authority or experience<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2636587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-07-28T095405.920.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[83325,44508,50410,7873,63412],"class_list":["post-2636586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-athlete-commentary","tag-blame-game","tag-controversy-2","tag-nba","tag-sports-politics-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-07-28T095405.920.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2636586"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2636590,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636586\/revisions\/2636590"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2636587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2636586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2636586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2636586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}