Brook Lopez (Part 2)

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19 Mar 2024

Brook Lopez (Part 2)

In the preseason of the lockout-shortened 2011–2012 NBA campaign, Brook Lopez suffered a right foot injury, causing him to miss the first 32 games of the regular season. Despite the setback, he made a notable season debut against the Milwaukee Bucks, contributing 9 points and 2 rebounds. Lopez showcased his scoring prowess in just his third game back, tallying a season-high 38 points in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. However, he encountered another setback when he injured his right ankle in a subsequent game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Due to the Nets' poor performance and to allow Lopez time to fully recover, the team opted to shut him down for the remainder of the season. During his limited playing time, Lopez averaged 19.2 points but posted a career-low in rebounds with 3.6 per game.

On July 11, 2012, Lopez signed a four-year, $61 million contract extension with the Nets. He started the 2012–2013 season strongly, scoring 27 points in the season opener against the Toronto Raptors. Throughout the early part of the season, he consistently posted impressive scoring performances, including a 35-point, 11-rebound outing against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lopez's stellar play earned him his first NBA All-Star selection, where he contributed 3 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in limited minutes.
Lopez continued to excel during the regular season, recording several notable performances, including a 38-point, 11-rebound game against the Dallas Mavericks. He finished the season with averages of 19.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and a career-high 2.1 blocks per game. The Nets secured the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, winning 49 games. Despite Lopez's contributions, the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Chicago Bulls in a seven-game series.

In the following season, Lopez showcased his scoring ability once again, tallying 21 points in a season-opening loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He recorded multiple impressive performances, including a 27-point effort in an overtime victory against the Phoenix Suns and a 32-point outing against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Lopez's season was cut short after just 17 games due to a foot injury suffered against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the shortened season, he maintained strong averages of 20.7 points and 6 rebounds per game, marking the first season in which he did not record at least one double-double.

During the 2014–15 NBA season, Brook Lopez made a significant impact for the Brooklyn Nets. After missing the first two games due to a foot injury, he made his season debut on November 3, 2014, with an impressive performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, tallying 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal in under 24 minutes of play. Despite being sidelined with a lower back strain in December, Lopez returned to the court and delivered a stellar performance against the Chicago Bulls on December 30, scoring 29 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots in a 96-82 victory.

Lopez continued to showcase his scoring prowess throughout the season. Notably, on March 20, 2015, he recorded 32 points and a season-high 18 rebounds in a thrilling triple-overtime win against the Milwaukee Bucks. His outstanding performances earned him recognition as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week ending on April 5, during which he led the Nets to a 3-1 record with averages of 20.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.
On June 26, 2015, Lopez exercised his option to become a free agent but subsequently re-signed with the Nets to a three-year deal on July 9, 2015. Throughout the season, he achieved several milestones, including making his 400th start for the Nets franchise and surpassing Vince Carter for the second-most field goals made in franchise history.

During the 2016–17 season, Lopez continued his impressive play, showcasing newfound versatility by expanding his range to include three-point shooting. On November 2, 2016, he recorded a career-high 34 points along with 11 rebounds in a victory over the Detroit Pistons, demonstrating his proficiency from beyond the arc by hitting four three-pointers. Throughout the season, Lopez consistently contributed both inside and outside the paint, setting career highs in three-pointers made and leading the Nets in blocked shots. Additionally, he surpassed multiple franchise records, including becoming the Nets' all-time leader in blocked shots, field goals made, and total points scored. Lopez's offensive prowess and versatility solidified his status as one of the most impactful players in Nets history.

Following a trade to his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers, on June 22, 2017, Brook Lopez made an immediate impact for his new squad. In his Lakers debut on October 19, 2017, Lopez showcased his scoring ability by putting up 20 points in a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, despite the team falling short with a 108–92 loss.
Lopez continued to demonstrate his scoring prowess throughout the season, notably on November 3, 2017, when he erupted for a season-high 34 points against his former team, the Brooklyn Nets. During this impressive performance, Lopez connected on six three-pointers to help secure a 124–112 victory for the Lakers.
However, Lopez faced challenges with injuries during the season, including missing eight games between December 20 and January 1 due to a right ankle injury. Despite these setbacks, Lopez's contributions on the court were instrumental for the Lakers as they navigated through the ups and downs of the season.