Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the mayor suggested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested during a planned visit to New York.
Kuzma, who has frequently spoken out against progressive politics, argued that Mamdani was more focused on creating attention than governing the country’s largest 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,” Kuzma wrote on X in response to the mayor’s video.
“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.
Kuzma also criticized what he described as a culture built around appearances rather than achievement.
“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.”
After facing backlash online, Kuzma pushed back against accusations that he was a Zionist.
“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 wrote.
The criticism followed Mamdani’s video describing Netanyahu as a “war criminal” over Israel’s actions in Gaza while acknowledging he had no authority to arrest him during his expected visit for the UN General Assembly.
Although the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, the United States does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction.
“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,” Mamdani said.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.”
Kuzma’s stance contrasts with fellow NBA players Kyrie Irving and Victor Wembanyama, who both liked Mamdani’s video on Instagram.
While not Jewish, Kuzma has publicly supported Israel and his former Washington Wizards teammate Deni Avdija.
Following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, Kuzma wrote: “Just terrible stuff happening right now and my prayers with them!!”
NBA star Kyle Kuzma blasts Mamdani for ‘cosplaying’ as ‘a mayor playing president’ after Netanyahu arrest fail https://t.co/UDhD0a4qaE pic.twitter.com/zAhVLQYlfy
— New York Post (@nypost) July 27, 2026
