Ted Cruz compared to NBA guard during broadcast

Brooklyn Nets broadcaster Tim Capstraw raised eyebrows Monday night when he made a lookalike comparison for Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen.

The YES Network broadcast showed Allen early in the second quarter as Phoenix led Brooklyn 45-28. Capstraw said Allen resembled Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

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“Grayson Allen — I can’t look at him without thinking of Ted Cruz,” Capstraw said. “I’m not Mr. Politician or anything. I don’t want to get into that. But this guy is a young Ted Cruz to me.”

Ryan Ruocco said he was “spot on” with his analysis of Allen and that the Texas senator should “feel good” about the comparison.

Cruz is well aware of the comparisons to Allen.

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Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, arrives for a hearing at the United States Capitol on December 17, 2025 in Washington, DC (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

In 2017, he went viral on social media when answering a question from Deadspin. The outlet asked for proof that Cruz played basketball. The lawmaker responded with a photo of Allen in a Duke Blue Devils uniform.

Allen had a solid game against the Nets in a bench role. He scored 14 points and dished out eight assists in 30 minutes as the Suns won the game 126-117.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 27 points while Devin Booker added 24.

Nets star Michael Porter Jr. led his team with 23 points. He added six rebounds and four assists to his stat line. Noah Clowney added 16.

Grayson Allen (8) of the Phoenix Suns defends Michael Porter Jr. (17) of the Brooklyn Nets during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Phoenix improved to 26-17 with the win. Brooklyn fell to 12-29.