NBA player Kyle Kuzma criticizes New York mayor's comments on Netanyahu

Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma responded on social media to a video posted by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in which the mayor said he would seek to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the mayor’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly. Kuzma wrote that the mayor’s remarks appeared to be aimed at generating attention rather than reflecting any legal authority, adding that public figures should focus on substantive work instead of “content" and "soundbites.

Mamdani’s video, released last week, called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and said the city was reviewing “every avenue available” to find a legal basis for detention, while acknowledging that the mayor does not have the power to arrest a foreign leader. He cited the International Criminal Court’s 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu and stated that the leader was not welcome in New York City.

The mayor’s comments came a day after President Donald Trump said Netanyahu would not be arrested while in the United States. Kuzma, who has previously spoken out on antisemitism, defended his criticism against accusations that he was taking a political stance, noting that he was simply pointing out what he viewed as a mismatch between the mayor’s statements and his actual authority.

Other NBA players, including Kyrie Irving and Victor Wembanyama, expressed support for Mamdani’s video on social media. Kuzma, who is not Jewish, has previously expressed solidarity with Israeli individuals and communities affected by the conflict in Gaza.