Brook Lopez to have another surgery on broken foot: Report

While this season has already been a bumpy ride for the Brooklyn Nets, the outlook further down the road just took another grim turn.

Brook Lopez will undergo surgery on his foot Jan. 4, the team announced Saturday.

The Nets 7-foot center, who will not play the rest of this season, will have the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot repaired. The team said further information will be released after the surgery.

This will mark the third surgery on the same bone for the 25-year-old Lopez who originally fractured the bone in December 2011. A screw, placed in the foot when the first break was repaired, was replaced in a procedure last off-season.

He was examined on Tuesday by the team's medical director, Dr. Riley Williams III, as well as Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad to see precisely what would be the best way to proceed in repairing the repeatedly injured foot.

Although no specific recovery timetable has been given, the Nets hope to know more once the surgery has been completed. Before going down, Lopez was leading the Nets in scoring at 20.7 points per game despite missing nine games while battling a sprained left ankle.

Lopez broke the bone again in a Dec. 20 overtime loss in Philadelphia.

The injury dealt a devastating blow to the Nets, who are 10-20 a 105-91 loss Saturday night to the Indiana Pacers.

Jason Kidd calls out Nets after Christmas blowout: Report

The only thing uglier than the Brooklyn Nets soccer uniforms Wednesday afternoon was the embarrassing 95-78 loss to the Chicago Bulls on their home court.

There was only about a minute  left in the third quarter when the chants of “Fire Kidd” briefly ran through the crowd at Barclays Center on Christmas Day, a loud commentary on the fate of first-year coach Jason Kidd if the fans got what they wanted under their trees.

When that chant failed to catch on, the fans instead took to intermittently booing the entire team.

After the game, an exasperated Kidd called his players out in the locker room, according to an ESPN report.  

"At the end of the day, the coach can only hold you responsible for energy and effort," he said. "If you're not giving it, I have to take you out. If you're missing shots, that's just part of the game. But if you're not giving energy or effort, I've got to take you out."

Not only did Kidd chew out the team, but team leader, Kevin Garnett, reportedly vented his own frustration with the listless team before hitting the showers.

Tired and upset with a lack of effort, Kidd's outburst came after the Nets dropped their fourth straight game. The first-year head coach said Monday after a 103-86 loss to Indiana that the Nets were becoming too comfortable with losing. He said it again on Christmas Day.

"I think again, it's easy, it's simple," Kidd told reporters after Wednesday's rout. "When we don't put the ball in the basket or we miss shots that are makeable, it translates to our defense of transition for us where we'll give up a layup and then that turns into another layup for the opposing team. ... That is the carryover of missing shots and not giving the effort. The bottom line is effort, and we're not doing that right now."

The Nets signed a group of All-Stars and high-priced veterans in direct response to the humbling Game 7 loss to Chicago in the playoffs last season, acquiring superstars Garnett and Paul Pierce, among others.

But the team has been ravaged by injuries to key players, including Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Pierce,Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko. Lopez broke his foot Friday and has been ruled out for remainder of the season.

The Nets wanted to increase their toughness by adjusting an attitude and identity that Kidd described as “vanilla” when he arrived.

You could say he got a big bowl of Rocky Road instead.

Brook Lopez breaks foot, out for season: Report

The New York Daily News is reporting that Brook Lopez, the Brooklyn Nets star center, broke his foot and will miss the rest of the season.

Stefan Lopez tweeted the bad news Saturday morning:

Confirming report that Brook Lopez broke his foot and is out for the season.
— Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) December 21, 2013

Lopez played 44 minutes Friday night against the 76ers after missing the previous two games with an ankle sprain. The seven-footer scored 22 points but looked soft in the paint during Sixers' 121-120 overtime victory in Philadelphia.

No further details were available.

Deron Williams crosses Chris Paul ... twice (VIDEO)

For the past couple of seasons Deron Williams has let Chris Paul carry the title of "best point guard in the game" without any question. These two used to have a rivalry and on Thursday at Barclays Center, D-Will rekindled the conversation.

Williams began the night badly by falling to the floor after being victimized by a crossover from Paul. The fact that he stepped on the foot of teammate Brook Lopez was what ultimately caused him to tumble, but Paul’s action at least sent Williams plopping to the floor.

But in the second quarter, Williams seemed to regain his stride, crossing up Paul twice to get open for scores. Williams owned the end of the second quarter when the Nets took control of the game, putting up 12 points in less than 6 minutes.

Williams' overall numbers weren't that impressive — 15 points and 4 assists — but he put Paul  and the rest of the league on alert by leading the Nets to an easy win.

And for at least one night the debate raged on.

To be fair, here's CP3's move on D-Will.

Paul Pierce happy to be 'glorified role player' with Nets

There is an "I" in Paul Pierce but, when it comes to the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA star claims there won't be one there this season.

If you look at the old version of the Nets, you might see an NBA squad already loaded with big names — up-and-coming Brook Lopez, one of the best shooting guards in Joe Johnson, and a top point guard in Deron Williams — and wonder how they could fill the roster with any more.

Mix in newcomer veterans Pierce and Kevin Garnett and it now leaves the Nets with a Klieg light-wattage of names on the roster.  Just for fun, throw in other well-known role players like Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko and you've got a cast bigger than Ocean's Twelve.

Now, the former Boston Celtics forward is looking at the makeup of the Nets and claims he is willing to step out of the spotlight with a supporting role with the team as a "glorified role player."

Think DeNiro sharing the bill with Pacino (Okay, D-Will can be Val Kilmer) in Heat.

Pierce told the Boston Globe he's fine with giving up a leading part on the team if it leads to a blockbuster finish at the end of the season.

"There will definitely be less pressure on me on this ball club than there was in Boston," Pierce said. "In Boston, I was the No. 1 primary option. Here we have so many options. We have young All-Stars on this team. My job is to be more of a glorified role player, as Doc [Rivers] used to always say, with the guys we have.

"With my abilities to do so many things, there's going to be nights where I'm not going to score a bunch of points. I can do other things to help this club win. With the combination of these guys, we're going to take pressure off each other."

Pierce — who averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds last season — hasn't been a role player, probably ever, in his basketball life, but isn't ready for the TNT broadcast booth just yet.

The future Hall of Famer could possibly lead this team as a scorer if asked to, and it wouldn't be a desperate move by Jason Kidd. However, to maximize everybody's abilities, the Nets have to get older guys like Pierce and Garnett to sacrifice their own individual games if they are going to save their bodies in the suddenly rough-and-tough NBA East over a long season.

Let's say the Nets decide they need Kirilenko to start at small forward for defensive purposes and bring Pierce off the bench as a scorer, it remains to be seen if Pierce will be open to playing second banana.

And the award for best player in a Nets supporting role goes to ...

Jason Kidd on Deron Williams: 'He's better than me'

Jason Kidd is considered one of the greatest point guards in NBA history but, as the new Brooklyn Nets head coach, the future Hall of Famer may have a knack for throwing assists to his players off the court as well.

Kidd, who led a group of no-name Nets to consecutive NBA Finals a decade ago, actually believes the Nets now have a better point guard in Deron Williams than his teams did with Kidd as the floor captain.

"He's better than me. I mean, he can shoot," said Kidd, who was the same age, 29, during the 2002 NBA Finals days as Williams is now. "He's a guy who can set the table, he can get to the basket, he can score. I don't look at him as me. Again, he's a little bit better than I am."

Kidd's humble opinion of himself might be a big ego boost for Williams — and boy, can the maligned Net use it.

Williams has seen more downs than ups since joining the Nets in 2011. He has struggled with injuries, weight gain and low expectations on a rebuilding roster in New Jersey. Last season, the first in Brooklyn,  he missed the All-Star game for the first time in four years.

But Williams benefitted from good health and a physical makeover following the All-Star break (he shed 15-to-20 pounds while changing his diet), returning to his Utah form for the greater part of two months.

And he has better supporting cast in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Brook Lopez.

Williams will still have to become a leader on a team now flush with with experienced NBA champions who bring high expectations with them.

"I want to (Williams) to be him," Kidd said Friday. "I want him to be the basketball player that we all know he can be. We're going to set lofty goals where as a coaching staff and teammates put him in a position to reach them."

While Williams is a better scorer than Kidd, he has a lot more to prove as a leader and all-around producer. That's what the Nets are hoping Kidd can bring out out of his floor leader.

Kidd said he'll allow Williams the freedom to call his own plays, as well as orchestrate his teammates in read-and-react situations.

"Just recognizing the situation," Kidd said. "Deron is a very gifted guard, so for me it's about mentally talking to him about different situations and get what he's thinking so we can both be on the same page."

Williams, who returned to his home in Utah for the summer, grew up in Dallas idolizing Kidd. Both have insisted their friendship won't get in the way of their new partnership.

"We're in a family," Kidd said. "My job is to put the guys in position to be successful. His job is to execute. We are friends. But I'm also friends with other players.

"I can't say I will favor or lean on whoever is playing the point because I have four other guys I have to pay attention to."

But Kidd knows — better than anyone — it starts with the PG.

NBA players marvel at Barclays Center elevator

"Amazing," "kind of trippy," and "007 stuff" are just a few of the superlatives being tossed around by NBA players after they play the Brooklyn Nets in Barclays Center.

And no, they're not talking about Brook Lopez's resurgence, Kris Humphries' marriage to Kim Kardashian or owner Mikhail Prokhorov's lifestyle. They are talking about the elevator ride that takes their team bus from street level to the locker room level before games.

This Bleacher Report video shows the 27-foot descent that is more Universal Studios theme park than team bus parking lot.



The ingenious solution to cramped Brooklyn real estate and old fashioned bus ramps was devised by Forest City Ratner Companies.

Players like Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Joakim Noah and Antawn Jamison have all been awed after they experience being spun on the giant turntable.

Cost of each 81-foot long elevator: $1 million.  Cost of NBA players wowed expressions: Priceless.

Does Port Authority know about this thing?

Kobe-Howard feud could lead to another blockbuster deal for Nets

While Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard butt heads in Los Angeles, the Nets organization is in the position of putting theirs together and coming up with an enticing package to bring the disgruntled Howard to Brooklyn.

A league source told the New York Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated argument following a New Year's Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant referenced and agreed with Shaquille O'Neal's assessment of Howard being soft.

Howard was restrained  from attacking his teammate, according to the source, and it only highlighted the center's unhappiness with Bryant since the start of the season.

"Look at the difference between our team and (the Clippers)," Howard said after Friday's loss to their Staples Center roommates.  "They just play together.  They share the ball.  Everybody's excited when something happens."

The rift between the no-nonsense Bryant and the child-like Howard — combined with Howard's pending free-agency — allows the Nets to position themselves as prime contenders to make a deal for the center's services.

Howard has not committed to the Lakers beyond this season and if he isn't re-signed, the team risks losing him without anything in return.  Meanwhile, the Nets wait in the wings maybe getting ready to pounce.

The Nets — specifically guard Deron Williams — talked about getting Howard from the Magic all last winter until a deal featuring Nets center Brook Lopez fell apart.  Howard later claimed Brooklyn was his desired destination after he was sent to Los Angeles.

Lopez, who is in the midst of a breakout season after undergoing foot surgery, can't be traded until Jan. 15 because he signed a four-year, $61 million deal in the summer.

The Nets have been running hot and cold this season but have to ask themselves whether or not the addition of the somewhat slumping Howard would supplant the surging play of Lopez.

Williams, the Nets' $100 million man, probably thinks so.

Brooklyn Nets introduce new superhero mascot

The Brooklyn Nets introduced their new mascot the BrooklyKnight (sounds like Brooklynite) on Saturday night (knight?) and the verdict is still out if it'll wow fans like Go the Gorilla or be a laughing stock like Stuff the Magic Dragon.

If Jay-Z is the mastermind behind the new Nets uniforms and the Barclays Center soundtrack, comic-book fanboy and Nets center Brook Lopez has to be behind the new mascot's look.

The Nets claim he is the first superhero mascot in the NBA and was designed by Marvel Comics staffers.

The odd choice of character for the team — with metal knees and a bucket-like head — descended from the rafters onto the Barclays Center court.  In all honesty, he looked more like an extra from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" than a Brooklyn superhero.



After some debate, the Nets dumped their old furry mascot Sly Fox for the buff comic character when they bolted from New Jersey.

For the Nets,  a team that changed their image and went retro with old school uniforms, the flashy BrooklyKnight costume seems out of place in the Barclays Center.

A tsar would have been more apropos.

Tyson Chandler takes issue with Shaq's NBA center rankings

Dwight Howard isn't the only player who disagrees with Shaquille O'Neal's ranking of NBA centers.  New York Knicks big man Tyson Chandler took issue with the TNT analyst's assessment that the two best centers in the NBA right now are "Robin" Lopez and Andrew Bynum.

The slighted Howard called Shaq's rankings "comical," reports The New York Post.

"I was watching 'SportsCenter' this morning, eating breakfast in the team lounge, and I was laughing at the whole thing," Chandler said.  "I honestly think it's comical.  I don't care about rankings.

"That's one individual's point of view.  I know where I'm at.  I know what my value is.  And I know better I have to continue to get better."

Maybe Chandler's tough skin comes from years of being underrated.  Chandler, last season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year and U.S. Olympic team member, is used to getting such congratulatory snubs.

During the London Games, Chandler told The Post it was "ridiculous" that the coaches voted him second-team All Defense after he won the won the Defensive Player of the Year award.  Try and figure that one out.

Shaq may have ruffled Chandler's feathers with the Bynum and Robin Lopez — we're sure he meant twin-brother Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez —  comment, but the Knicks center might have Shaq eating crow.  The Knicks enter the season with high hopes and a improved — if not older— roster.

Who knows.  With Howard out in Los Angeles, Chandler has a good shot of making his first All-Star team.  That is if any Lopez brother or Bynum doesn't get in the way.

Nets players get plastered all over Brooklyn

Starting Monday, expect to see few Brooklyn Nets player's faces plastered all over their new home borough.

An ad campaign— aimed at familiarizing Brooklynites with their new NBA neighbors—will paste ads introducing Nets players Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace at strategic spots in Brooklyn to drum up interest in the team.

The Brooklyn Nets will make their New York City debut at the new Barclays Center next fall.

"We want to get them excited," said Nets chief marketing Officer Fred Mangione. "We want them to know we are here in Brooklyn and they have a great team to support."

Some fans might want to know why Kris Humphries' mug isn't on one of these posters— or maybe not.

The other four projected starters will get the Kim Kardashian star treatment in the carefully planned media blitz— the second leg of the Nets' Hello Brooklyn campaign.

The million-dollar multi-media promotion will place each player in their own ad with the headline Hello Brooklyn with a photo and a little personal info to reveal the person behind the player.

Johnson says he is a lifelong Razorback, Lopez is a "20-point scorer" and Batman's biggest fan, Williams has a couple of kids and Wallace is an off-season fisherman.  Don't you feel like you know them already.

Humphries could always mention he had a 72-day marriage to a reality show star and Jason Kidd might say he likes off-road racing— oh wait he's on the Knicks.

The black and white billboards— matching the Nets new color scheme— will start appearing Monday at the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, near the Manhattan Bridge and major streets in Spike Lee's favorite borough.

Starting in August, the team will start putting up teaser billboards leading up to the reveal of their new top-secret logos designed by Mr. Net himself— part owner Jay-Z.

Since April, the Nets ads have concentrated on getting Brooklyn ready for the team's big move from New Jersey with tag lines like "Brooklyn Will Become a Chant" and "First Home Game Since 1957."

Here's another, "What Happened to Dwight Howard?"

Brook Lopez signs $61 million deal with Nets; goes comic book shopping

Brook Lopez signed a four-year, $61 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets and the first thing the comic book buff did was leave his press conference and go comic book shopping.

After the announcement at a Brooklyn Marriot, Lopez crossed the street in front of the still under construction Barclays Center and headed to a local comic book store where he plunked down $75 and had a conversation with the clerk about "The Rocketeer"— no, not Jeremy Lin.

The Nets re-signed the free agent after being mentioned in trade talks with Superman— yes, Dwight Howard.

Lopez doesn't like the idea that the Orlando Magic center is compared to the Man of Steel.

"I read a lot of comics and they don't mention Dwight Howard," said Lopez.

The Nets center is headed to Italy to celebrate with his family.

Lopez wants to keep the Brook in Brooklyn

Brook Lopez— the center for the Brooklyn Nets and lately the middle of trade rumors surrounding talks with the Orlando Magic about bringing Dwight Howard to the Barclays Center— wants the Nets to know he's all-in on Crooklyn.

Lopez— an unabashed Disney fan— would probably love to live in Disney World but even the close proximity of the AmWay Center to the Magic Kingdom does not make Orlando a place Lopez wants to play.

"He really wants to see it through with the Nets  and go to Brooklyn," said Chris Lopez— Brook's brother and advisor told The New York Post.  "We're back in California and he understands the situation, but he wants to remain consistent He wants to be a Brooklyn Net.  He hasn't played anywhere else and he likes the organization.  He wants to be a part of it now that they're going to be good."

It sounds like the Nets are also wishing upon a star and it just happens to be Howard— the most sought after free agent available.  The Nets reportedly said they are willing to give up Lopez, forward Kris Humphries, guard MarShon Brooks along with three first-round draft picks in order to land Howard.  If  the Nets throw in Sleepy, they've probably got a deal.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Orlando we go.

 Lopez would have to agree to a sign-and-trade and Chris Lopez has doubts that his brother would be willing to make that move but said,  "Honestly, I couldn't answer that, it's Brook's call."

Lopez, the 10th pick in the 2008 draft, missed almost all of the 2011's abbreviated season because of a broken foot and and ankle injury right after he returned to the lineup. He has averaged 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in his first three NBA seasons.

"Brook and his rehab are doing fine," said Chris Lopez.  "He has been working really hard toward seeing it through to Brooklyn.  He is willing to do anything to make it happen.

"But we haven't heard anything other than what we've read and seen [on TV]."

Now— with the signing of point guard Deron Williams— the Nets are looking to add Howard and complete their own version of the Big Three.

Suddenly Brook Lopez, you are not the fairest of them all.

Nets still in hunt for Dwight Howard

The Brooklyn Nets and the Orlando Magic are in discussions for a blockbuster trade which would send Dwight Howard to the Nets in exchange for Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks and three future draft picks.

The report by ESPN, quoting unnamed sources, says the Nets would give up first round picks in 2013, 2015 and 2017 to land Howard— the five-time All-Star— and maybe, more importantly, help entice Deron Williams to re-sign with Brooklyn.

Howard has told Orlando management that he wants to be traded to the Nets and only the Nets.  Williams sounds like he has narrowed his picks to the Nets and the Dallas Mavericks.

The Nets traded for Atlanta's Joe Johnson on Monday and— if the pieces fall in place— make a trade for Howard and re-sign Williams, Brooklyn will have their own formidable Big Three.

Lopez and Humphries are free agents, so they would have to consent to a sign-and-trade.  The ironic thing is that Lopez— who is a restricted free agent— is a huge Disney and Disney World fan and would be more that happy to play near the Magic Kingdom.

Humphries— the most most dominant front-line player on the Nets for the past two seasons already lives in Florida during the offseason.

If the Nets do sign Howard and re-sign Williams, it would give the Nets Big Three a combined 2012 salary of $58.8 million.  The NBA salary cap was $58 million last season.

Nets officially belong to Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets new logo was officially unveiled at an event today when merchandise for the former-New Jersey resident went on sale at a Modell's store, across Flatbush Avenue from the Barclays Center, the team's new home.

Now that the Nets' 35 year tenure in Jersey is over and Gov. Chris Christie gave the team a kick-in-the-butt as a parting gift, the team can get down to calling itself the Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets P.A. announcer kicked off the event by saying, "Helloooo Brooklyn!" before the team showed off the new logo and black-and-white team colors.  The minimalist  logo— contained in a sheild— features the word "Nets" arched over the image of a basketball emblazoned with a "B" in black typeface.

"We're thrilled to introduce the brand identity," Nets CEO Brett Yormark said.  "It truly is Brooklyn."

Last week a picture of the logo was leaked to the public by an IT employee but now fans can actually go out and buy a hat or shirt with the logo printed on it.

Brook Lopez, the Nets center who will be a free-agent this summer, wore a black suit to represent the team's primary colors.  He helped show off the new merchandise.  Head coach Avery Johnson was on hand but there was no sign of Deron Williams.

Even though the logo was unveiled today, the team said it won't introduce its new uniforms until the fall.

Wonder if they'll make one in a size XXXXL and send it to Christie.  Oops, too soon?

Forget Linsanity; Nets have Lopez-apalooza

In only his third game back from surgery for a broken foot, Brook Lopez blew up for 38 points and led the New Jersey Nets to an upset win over the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, 93-92.

While all the talk was about Deron Williams and speculation that he would return to his hometown of Dallas, it was Lopez who made the loudest statement.

At the same time, Lopez has increased his own trade value.

The Nets center scored 21 points in the first half and hit the winning free-throws with 42.4 seconds remaining in the game.

The Mav's Jason Terry made a slashing gesture against his throat to get the Dallas crowd pumped up, but Lopez hit both free throws.

"Lopez was a monster tonight," said Williams.  "He carried us from the start of the game and it makes a difference."

If Williams was auditioning for the Mavericks, he got a slight case of stage fright.

The Nets All-Star finished the night with 12 points on 2-for-15 shooting, but still had 12 assists.

"I've said it all season, when we get him back we become a different team and you saw a lot of that tonight," he added.

Jason Kidd, who led the Nets to two NBA Championship series, missed two potential game-winning shots for Dallas in the final seconds of the game.

The Nets have now won three tough road games in a row— in Chicago, New York and Dallas— and appear to be making a run at the playoffs.

"I had to get back in and find my place.  I didn't want to be that monkey wrench coming back and mess up their flow," said Lopez.  "These guys have been playing great on the road and so we just wanted to continue to do that tonight."

Maybe a "donny-Brook" will break out for the big guy's services.