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The Nets sustained two losses Sunday night in Charlotte. The team lost its first game of the season and Spencer Dinwiddie partially tore the ACL in his right knee. The injury is expected to keep the Nets starting point guard out for an extended period of time.
Shams Charania was first to report the news... implying Dinwiddie will be out for the season.
Dinwiddie is expected to make full recovery before next season. Tough loss for Nets; Dinwiddie emerged as a starter alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. With $12.3M player option in offseason, Dinwiddie has multiple choices being among the top free agents on the market. https://t.co/NDl7H6fP1J
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 28, 2020
The Nets issued a statement early Monday afternoon, confirming the news of the tear, but declining to provide any further details until after Dinwiddie undergoes surgery which is scheduled for next week.
Spencer Dinwiddie has been diagnosed with a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee. The injury occurred during the third quarter of last night’s game in Charlotte. Further updates will be issued following surgery, which is scheduled to take place next week. pic.twitter.com/qV9miVXgXb
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 28, 2020
ESPN’s Malika Andrews reported Dinwiddie is expected to miss “an extended amount of time, and his ability to return this season will be dependent on his rehabilitation.”
However, Brian Lewis of the Post spoke to an orthopedist not associated with the Nets who believes a return is unlikely...
Dinwiddie’s ACL tear is partial, not full. But when I asked Manhattan Orthopedic Care founder Dr. Armin Tehrany if that meant the #Nets guard could return in 2020-21, he said its unlikely. He said while a repair is possible, a season-ending reconstruction is far more likely. #NBA
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) December 28, 2020
Later Monday, Steve Nash expressed his feelings about the injury...
Steve Nash gets emotional talking about the ACL injury to Spencer Dinwiddie
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 28, 2020
"Deeply saddened... we all feel for Spence" pic.twitter.com/PCXxUa6LOG
Here’s what happened: In the opening minutes of the second half of Sunday’s game vs. the Hornets, Dinwiddie awkwardly planted his right leg off a drive-and-kick, immediately favoring his right knee and falling to the floor. Following the play, Dinwiddie limped to the sideline and walked on his own power to the locker room. As the third quarter progressed, the Nets announced that Dinwiddie was out for the remainder of the game with a right knee strain. Further evaluation was set for Monday morning in Brooklyn.
Dinwiddie, who has had a reputation for durability in the NBA, tore the ACL on his left knee his junior year at Colorado. After being drafted by the Pistons, then traded to the Bulls and sent to the G League, Dinwiddie was picked up by the Nets in December 2016, the first year of the team’s rebuild. Last season, amidst injuries to Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert, Dinwiddie stepped up and averaged 20.6 points and 6.8 assists before falling victim to COVID-19 in July which ended his season prior to the Orlando “bubble.”
Among those who wished Dinwiddie well was owner Joe Tsai...
.@SDinwiddie_25 we pray for a full recovery. You’ll come back better and stronger.
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) December 28, 2020
Finally, late Monday, Dinwiddie, master of social media, took to Instagram to discuss his injury and offer some hope of a return...
Hang in there, Tech Guy with a Jumper.
- Spencer Dinwiddie tears ACL in brutal Nets setback - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie has torn ACL, will have surgery next week - Greg Logan - Newsday
- Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie has partially torn ACL: Sources - Alex Schiffer - The Athletic New York
- Spencer Dinwiddie has a torn ACL. Where do the Nets go from here? - Alex Schiffer - The Athletic New York
- Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie to have surgery for partially torn ACL - Malika Andrews - ESPN
- Nets G Spencer Dinwiddie suffers partially torn ACL - Scott Thompson - SNY
- Nets’ Dinwiddie to have surgery for partially torn right ACL - Brian Mahoney - AP