NBA

The missing ’Lenko: New Net making strides on his way back

MINNEAPOLIS — When the Nets landed Andrei Kirilenko this summer, it was lauded as the signing of the offseason — thanks to the combination of his diverse skill-set and the below-market $3.18 million price tag for this season, plus a player option for next.

But, like the Nets in general, Kirilenko’s season barely has gotten off the ground.

The versatile 6-foot-10 combo forward was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice at UNC Charlotte, before the Nets got on a plane and flew north to face Kirilenko’s former team, the Timberwolves — whose $10 million option for this season Kirilenko declined in order to test free agency.

But Tuesday marked the first time since Nov. 8 against the Wizards that Kirilenko had been an active participant for the Nets. He suffered a reoccurrence of back spasms, which have plagued him for more than a month.

In the two weeks since he has played, the Nets have gone in the tank, losing six of seven games — including three straight after Wednesday’s 95-91 loss to the Bobcats — and enter Friday night’s game tied with the Knicks for last in the Atlantic Division at 3-8.

“It’s always tough [watching],” Kirilenko said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s always tough sitting on the bench behind those guys and saying, ‘OK guys, you have to do this, you have to do this.’

“When I’m on the floor, I say, ‘Shut up, man! I know what I have to do.’ So I’m stopping myself. … I’m just cheering.”

On a team with a constellation of stars such as the Nets — including its coach — it can be easy for a player who does all of the little things to be forgotten. But it’s exactly all the little things Kirilenko is able to do — play above-average defense at several positions, move well without the ball, and handle and pass the ball from various spots on the court — the Nets, in large part, have been lacking in their dreadful start to the season.

Kirilenko missed the final five games of the preseason after the back spasms first occurred, as well as the season-opener in Cleveland. He returned to play just over 50 minutes across four games as he tried to ease himself back into game action. But when his back acted up in Washington, that plan went out the window.

He stayed home instead of traveling on last week’s West Coast trip, and underwent an epidural shot in his back to deaden the pain. Kirilenko said it’s something he has done before.

“I have kind of stages, when I know after seven, eight days you’re feeling like it’s way better, you’re not taking any medicine, any treatment,” he said. “Worst-case scenario is you’re getting that shot because it doesn’t feel good for a long period. You’re just getting stretched, [going to the chiropractor] and getting the shot to kind of take the pain away.”

He said Thursday, however, he “felt great,” and that if it was up to him, he would be on the court now. But he also added he was trusting the judgment of Nets trainer Tim Walsh and the team’s medical staff, who said after the epidural it would take 10-12 days to recover. After two previous attempts to return to the court have gone awry, he wants to remain healthy and able to play this time.

“I’m very suspicious to give you any day [for a return date],” Kirilenko said. “If it’s my will, I would play now. I feel great. But looking back, and reinjuring and coming back with an injury, we want to give the full time the doctor said and get back slowly. … It’s difficult [to be patient] right now.”