For the first time since Opening Night of the 2017-18 season, the Brooklyn Nets will have a healthy roster. Spencer Dinwiddie, who’s been out a month with torn thumb ligaments, will play Friday vs. the Hornets. Dinwiddie went through a full practice with the Long Island Nets at HSS Training Center Thursday and will play vs. Hornets Friday.
Spencer Dinwiddie will play tomorrow, coach Kenny Atkinson says. The plan is to play him in back-to-back games as well.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 28, 2019
DInwiddie spoke about his recovery Thursday afternoon...
@SDinwiddie_25 spoke after practice today about his rehab process, inserting himself back into the backcourt, and the team's greater goals pic.twitter.com/VmM8hhfUq4
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 28, 2019
Earlier, the Nets themselves posted a tweet with images of Dinwiddie practicing with Long Island at the HSS Training Center. The Nets also sent Jared Dudley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to Long Island to add an NBA element to the practice. All three were recalled following the practice.
Coming pic.twitter.com/GojK4aYs0B
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 28, 2019
The news means all 17 players on the Nets roster — the 14 fully-guaranteed players, 10-day contract Tahjere McCall, and the two two-ways, Theo Pinson and Alan Williams — are healthy. The last time the Nets were fully healthy was October 18, 2017. That night, Jeremy Lin blew out his patella tendon and was declared out for the season.
This season, the Nets have had to deal with a series of injuries — Caris LeVert’s leg dislocation, left hamstring strains that at various times kept Treveon Graham, Shabazz Napier and Dudley on the bench. First round pick, Dzanan Musa, suffered ankle and shoulder injuries. On one night, in early January, six Nets were out.
Atkinson and his staff will now have the luxury of deciding which 13 of his 17 players will be active vs. the Hornets.