Brook Lopez was at the Barclays Center on Wednesday, no, not practicing with the Nets, but helping sponsor a Coca-Cola event promoting healthy lifestyles. Lopez did speak to the media on hand about his improving health and where he stands as the season draws closer.
Lopez did shed some weight after putting on a lot of weight last season. At the start of last season he said he weighed in at 290 pounds, most of the added weight being muscle, but now he says he is down to "just under 275."
on his weight, Brook Lopez said, "last I checked i was just under 275." so not 270.
— Mitchell Abramson (@nydnmabramson) August 20, 2014
Kind of ironic considering Lopez put on weight to try and be stronger in the post, but now he is back down to around 270, about the weight he played at during early years with the team.
Lopez said he started running last week after having reconstructive foot surgery and added that there is "no question" he will be able to play in the season opener on October 29 against the Boston Celtics.
Brook said he was very happy to finally be out of the walking boot and said he began running last week.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 20, 2014
Brook Lopez said "no question I'll be ready for the start of the season" of his rehab from foot surgeries.
— Mitchell Abramson (@nydnmabramson) August 20, 2014
These are all great signs for Lopez, who seems to have kept his body in well enough shape despite being off his feet for the most of the past seven months. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reported in March that Billy King thought that it may be best for Lopez to lose weight this offseason.
"We’re going to change how we approach him, maybe with his weight," general manager Billy King said in an interview on WFAN. "He maybe got too heavy. We’re going to try to modify that as well and do some of things to take the pressure off his foot as well."
So maybe taking a different course in how Lopez handles his weight will help him be healthier during the long 82-game season.
- Nets' Brook Lopez slims down like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony during offseason - Mitch Abramson - New York Daily News
- This Nets big man is leaner and aiming for a bounce-back season - Tim Bontemps - New York Post