New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani found himself under fire from an unexpected critic over the weekend. Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma mocked the democratic socialist’s remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Kuzma criticized the mayor’s comments as more performative than substantive. He suggested Mamdani was more focused on appearances than actual governance. The NBA veteran made these remarks in response to Mamdani’s video on the social media platform X.

The mayor’s video called for the arrest of Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court warrant. Mamdani released this address ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. Kuzma’s response was that “Everyone auditioning. Nobody building.” He commented on the current cultural trend of prioritizing image over action.

“A mayor playing president. A founder playing operator. Everyone auditioning. Nobody building,” Kuzma remarked.

Mamdani’s stance attracted support from NBA figures like Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. They liked Mamdani’s Instagram post, where he accused Netanyahu of genocide against Palestinian people and encouraged his arrest if he visits New York City.

Kuzma’s criticism underscores his reputation as one of the rare active NBA players to publicly challenge progressive political ideas. In contrast, many prominent players have generally avoided this stance.

Mamdani’s rhetoric regarding Israel has drawn consistent criticism from Jewish organizations and political opponents. They have accused him of inflammatory speech. In response to these accusations, Mamdani previously instructed the city’s legal department to explore if New York police could enforce the warrant. He later conceded the city lacks such legal authority over foreign leaders.

Critics urge Mamdani to focus on internal issues, including crime, sanitation, and housing affordability. They argue that these should take precedence over international matters beyond the mayor’s mandate.

While Kuzma’s comments presented a contrasting view to the support Mamdani received from Irving and Wembanyama, they highlight the wider division within the NBA about the mayor’s controversial rhetoric.