Brook Lopez's Long Journey As a Net Shows He Is Under-Appreciated
Nov 29, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
In his eight-plus NBA seasons, Brook Lopez has played for nine head coaches in three different arenas for one franchise (the Brooklyn Nets since 2012). He is rarely, if ever, mentioned with the greatest Nets of all time, but statistically, he already is.
Brook Lopez is currently averaging 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game on 50.3 percent shooting for his career. 20 games into his ninth season, he is averaging 19.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. For over eight seasons, Lopez has been the centerpiece for the Nets’ offense and the most consistent piece of the franchise.
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Lopez didn’t have the fanfare other, less-impactful big men have had going into the draft. He went to Stanford, not Duke or Kentucky. He has never been the type of player that wanted that media spotlight, to grab headlines, or to even seek attention. Lopez has shown unwavering loyalty to an organization that has kept his name on the trade block and his future an uncertainty.
There has been no off the court issues, no drama, no ultimatums or demands from Lopez–he shows up for every game and competes. Instead of focusing on these positives, people instead overstate his negatives: his lack of rebounding, his mediocre defense; he isn’t a leader or he isn’t a killer like Kobe, and so on.
Numerous head coaching changes and the constant roster turnover have left Lopez as the only Net left standing from their days in the Meadowlands. Lopez has seen the worst the Nets have to offer: 12-win seasons and Deron Williams’ leadership. Despite this, he proudly wears his Nets jersey and wants to be the foundation of their success, whether statistically or culturally.
Feb 23, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Draft
Lopez averaged 19.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game during his sophomore season at Stanford. He missed the first semester, so all of the games he played were against PAC-10 and NCAA tournament-level competition.
The 7-footer was drafted 10th overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets. To put this pick into perspective, the Nets had just traded franchise point guard Jason Kidd and fan favorite Richard Jefferson. New Jersey went 34-48 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001. When the Nets were on the clock, Lopez was considered the “best available” for the Nets. The rest of the “best available” for the 10th overall pick, according to the ESPN broadcast, included Jerryd Bayless, Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, and Anthony Randolph.
Lopez was the first center selected in the draft. Other notable big men included his twin brother Robin Lopez, Roy Hibbert, JaVale McGee, Kosta Koufos, Serge Ibaka, Omer Asik, and DeAndre Jordan. The only players (selected after Lopez) to make an All-Star team or All-NBA team were Roy Hibbert, DeAndre Jordan and Goran Dragic. None of these aforementioned players would have sufficed as a “franchise” player to pair with Vince Carter and be a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference.
In retrospect, Lopez is still the best player the Nets could have drafted. Lopez is inarguably the best big man to come out of the 2008 draft. DeAndre Jordan is probably the only argument one could make, and even that is a statistical stretch. Jordan is currently averaging a very respectable double-double, 11.3 points and 12.7 rebounds per game, for the Clippers. However, his career averages: 8.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, pale in comparison to Lopez. Jordan might be better when it comes to just grabbing boards, but Lopez is better at everything else, and he hasn’t been playing with Chris Paul.
Nov 17, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) attempts to grab the ball from Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Meeting Expectations, Despite Injuries
Lopez did not have the rookie season he probably wanted. He averaged a career low 13 points per game, but managed to grab 8.1 rebounds per game. Contrary to popular belief, the “injury-prone” big man played all 82 games for his first three seasons. His scoring continued to improve; he averaged 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in his sophomore year. The following season (2010-11), he improved to 20.4 points per game, and the Nets made the trade for Deron Williams, which helped Lopez significantly.
The big man missed most of the 2011-12 lockout-shortened season due to injuries to his right foot and right ankle, only playing in five games. In those five games, Lopez averaged 19.2 points per game, but a career-low 3.6 rebounds per game.
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By the time Lopez was healthy enough to hit the court again, the Nets had moved to Brooklyn. In 74 games, he averaged 19.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. The 2012-13 season was not only the inaugural season for the Brooklyn Nets, but also the first time Lopez got to compete in the playoffs. Lopez averaged 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and three blocks in seven games against the Chicago Bulls, where he was directly going against (an in-his-prime) Joakim Noah. Though the Nets lost the series, it certainly wasn’t due to Lopez, who had the best numbers against the Bulls in the playoffs since Patrick Ewing in the 90s.
The Brookie’s first and respectable playoff performance would be quickly forgotten after the Nets made a blockbuster trade to acquire Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Another foot injury sidelined him for a majority of the 2013-14 season. Lopez missed out on the most publicized season in Nets history. Brook only played 17 games under his sixth head coach, Jason Kidd. He also missed out on the playoff run and the subsequent “this is why they brought me here” moment with Pierce.
If Lopez never went down, maybe the Nets would have taken care of the Toronto Raptors in the first round. The Nets may have won the series in four or five games and have enough time to rest Pierce, KG and Joe Johnson for the next round against the “Big Three Era” Miami Heat, a matchup where Brooklyn’s big man would have made all the difference.
Jan 12, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball defended by Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) during the third quarter at the Barclays Center. The Rockets defeated the Nets 113-99. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Head Coaches and Trade Rumors
Constant turnover at the head coaching position has kept Lopez in trade rumors throughout his career. In the beginning, the Nets wanted to have a superstar to headline the move to Brooklyn, and Lopez was the main trade asset for the Nets to acquire Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic. To add fuel to the fire and more shade on Lopez; then head-coach Avery Johnson publicly criticized Lopez’s lack of rebounding while Howard was averaging around 14 rebounds per game for the Magic.
The Nets next head coach, Jason Kidd, allegedly tried to trade Lopez to Milwaukee before the attempted power-grab that sent him packing there. Lionel Hollins shared his predecessor’s criticism regarding Lopez’s lack of rebounding and defense, and even benched him in favor of Mason Plumlee, despite averaging a team-high 17.2 points per game for the 2014-15 season.
During that turbulent season under Hollins, the Nets were the closest to trading Lopez since Dwight Howard. The Nets almost sent Lopez to Oklahoma City for PG Reggie Jackson. Thankfully they didn’t, and the Nets ended up trading KG for the Thaddiator, Thaddeus Young, which energized the Nets into an unlikely playoff spot. Lopez averaged 19.8 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in six games against the No. 1 seed Atlanta Hawks.
Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinson have shown more confidence in Lopez than their predecessors. Under Atkinson, Lopez is flourishing. Instead of trying to turn Lopez into the post-player he isn’t, they are encouraging him to be the shooter he truly is.
Dec 12, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) walks off the court after the Nets lost to the Houston Rockets 122-118 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Reality
In over eight seasons with the Nets, Brook Lopez has displayed nothing but professionalism and loyalty to the Nets, despite all the drama and criticism. Lopez has shown he can play with a variety of teammates and adjust accordingly, from Vince Carter and Yi Jianlian, to Joe Johnson and Thaddeus Young.
The Brookie is second in franchise history in points scored, field goals, and blocks, behind only Buck Williams. He is number one in franchise history for offensive win shares and ranks third for total rebounds, and he has accumulated these statistics despite not playing the majority of two seasons. It is safe to say the All-Star center has lived up to his expectations since the Nets drafted him.
Nets draft day selections and acquisitions since Lopez include Terrance Williams, Derrick Favors, Marshon Brooks, Mason Plumlee, Markel Brown, and Corey Jefferson. In that same time period, the Nets have considered trading Lopez for Dwight Howard, Larry Sanders, and Reggie Jackson. Now, the popular consensus is Lopez is worth at least a first-round pick, and many teams don’t want to give up a top-ten pick regardless of the fact that’s exactly what Lopez was.
Brook Lopez has been undervalued and under-appreciated, despite being consistently productive and an all-around professional.
When the day comes where he is no longer the starting center for the Nets, many people will realize this. Will #11 be hanging in the rafters in Brooklyn one day? Maybe.