Latest Injury To Brooklyn Nets’ Brook Lopez Fortunately Not Season-Ending

By Joseph Martinez @BKN_Martinez08 on October 17, 2014

Another season, another foot injury for Brook Lopez.

The Brooklyn Nets will likely be without their very talented big man up through Opening Night. The Nets called the injury a “mild midfoot sprain” in his surgically-repaired right foot. X-Rays revealed no fractures for the All-Star center, which is a sigh of relief for the Nets organization and Nets fans everywhere.

The injury was said to have occurred in Brooklyn’s preseason contest vs the Sacramento Kings, where Lopez said he felt some discomfort in his foot after being stepped on in the first quarter.

In the first few years of Lopez’s career, he didn’t miss a game. However, he has struggled to stay healthy over the past three seasons. He reminds me of Yao Ming – so much talent, but injuries have held him back. Hopefully these injuries won’t force Lopez into retirement like it did Yao.

The great news for Lopez and the Nets is that it’s only a mild sprain, and he should be back in about two weeks. It’s better for this to of happened in preseason then to have happened during the regular season, although the Nets probably wish they didn’t have to deal with another Lopez injury at all.

For the Nets to contend at all this season, Lopez must stay healthy. Their offense is centered around him, and the team’s game plan is completely changed with his absence. The biggest hope the Nets have is that when Lopez returns, his injury isn’t the type to linger through the season. Lopez must stay healthy.

I expect Lopez to be back at least by the Nets’ home opener vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is their third game of the season. Before the Nets clear him to play, they better make sure he’s completely healthy. There’s no rush. It will be Mason Plumlee‘s time to shine in Lopez’s absence.

Joseph Martinez is a Brooklyn Nets/NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @BKN_Martinez08, find him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.