To almost no one's surprise, the Nets announced late Friday that Brook Lopez will not play again this season, that it's counterproductive for a player who's been been troubled by foot and ankle injuries to play in the team's 10 remaining games. Lopez, who hadn't missed a quarter to injury in his first three years, played only five games this season.
Billy King said that "common sense" was a big part of the decision not to bring Lopez Lopez back this season. The Nets consulted with with both Lopez and his agent, Arn Tellem. King said Lopez is "healing nicely."
Lopez will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Nets can match any offer. They also retain his Bird Rights.
In his five games between foot and ankle injuries, Lopez averaged 19.2 points and 3.6 rebounds, with back to back games of 38 in a win over the Mavericks and 28 in a loss to the Celtics. He shot nearly 50 per cent from the floor.
Lopez becomes the Nets sixth player lost to season-ending injuries, an NBA high. The others are, in the order they went down, Damion James, Keith Bogans, Shawne Williams, Mehmet Okur and Jordan Farmar. Williams and Okur were included in the Trail Blazer trade that brought Gerald Wallace to the Nets. The Nets have now lost 205 games to injury, also most in the NBA.
- Brook Lopez finished for the season, Nets announce - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
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Lopez's injury too much to overcome - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Nets shut down C Brook Lopez for the season - AP
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Nets shut down Lopez for season - Tim Bontemps - New York Post