The Brooklyn Nets’ starting center Brook Lopez will be out for the rest of the 2013-2014 season after suffering a break in his right foot during a loss to the 76ers on Friday night.
The 25-year-old center likely injured the foot in the second half of the game against Philadelphia. Although Lopez battled the injury the rest of the game, x-rays revealed a break in the foot following the game. The Nets confirmed that Lopez will be out for the rest of the season.
Lopez has had lingering issues with his right foot. In 2011, the all-star center’s right foot was surgically repaired, and a screw was placed in a fracture. Despite these injury issues, the Nets signed him to a four-year deal during the 2012 free agency period. Going into this season, Brooklyn hoped for Lopez to be one of the core pieces in what was expected to be a stellar starting five consisting of newly-acquired Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett who would play alongside Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Lopez.
Instead, Brooklyn’s 2013-2014 campaign has been disastrous. The Nets have already fallen to a 9-17 record in an already weak Eastern Conference. A core reason for this is the Nets have been plagued by injuries. Star point guard Deron Williams fell to an ankle injury early on as Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko have all spent time injured as well.
The injury-riddled Nets will have to rely upon other big men to play increased minutes including Kevin Garnett, Mason Plumlee and Andray Blatche. There is no question it will be even more difficult for Brooklyn to become a playoff contender without Brook Lopez.