TORONTO — The Nets turned the season around, many claim, when Jason Kidd took his roster, rearranged this and that and developed a small-ball lineup. The success certainly was not lost on one guy.
“I say, ‘Small lineup. Uh oh, I’m pretty big…’ ” said Brook Lopez, the injured and seemingly forgotten Net.
Lopez, the 7-foot All-Star center, played just 17 games before fracturing his right foot and requiring season-ending surgery — and subsequent ankle surgery. He is in Toronto with the team offering moral support. Lopez is walking without his boot cast that finally came off Monday.
His spirits are good but Lopez admits it is painful to be outside the playoffs process. Nevertheless, he is thankful to be traveling with the team and is determined to return next season.
“All this is great because obviously we’re doing good,” said Lopez, who quickly waved off any notion of feeling left out. “By no means. Look at the guys we’ve got out there. Clearly, it’s what we were capable of all season. We’ve been meshing, peaking, coming together at the right time.”
He pointed to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston and said simply, “Pick your poison.”
Lopez said he wishes he could be on the court, and it hit home in Game 1 Saturday when he sat on the end of the bench.
“Definitely weird. When I was sitting on the bench [Saturday], I was half expecting to have my name called and to take off my suit and go in the game but obviously, it’s a little difficult,” Lopez said, then laughed. “Real hard because I was in a boot then. It would have taken me a little longer to go in.”
But the boot is off and he started upper-body work last week. Basketball activities are still far off, he said, but Lopez fully expects to be ready for training camp. With the Nets.
“This is where I want to be. I want to be back,” Lopez said. “I wish I could be out there, absolutely. I’m just finally happy to be able to travel again and support the team, be on the bench.”
Coach Jason Kidd said he has no idea what Lopez is going through because “I was never hurt for the playoffs. So you have to ask him.”
Lopez, who did not miss a single game in his first three seasons before the injuries hit, said it’s hard but he is willing to help.
“Should I say some curse words in retaliation to their GM?” Lopez said, referencing the flap caused by Toronto executive Masai Ujiri.
Yup, anything to help.