Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: The Nets that made us fans

By Joshua Balasa

BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 6: A general view before the game between the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets on October 6, 2016 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 6: A general view before the game between the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets on October 6, 2016 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 16: Brook Lopez #11 and Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets high five each other during the game against the New York Knicks on March 16, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 16: Brook Lopez #11 and Jeremy Lin #7 of the Brooklyn Nets high five each other during the game against the New York Knicks on March 16, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Brook Lopez

The quintessential professional: The Brookie Monster.

For nine years, Brook Lopez towered in the middle of Nets lineups and for nine years, he was the one strong, goofy constant in the fluid, rebuilding lineups of the last decade. Selected 10th overall by the Nets in 2008 out of Stanford, his entire career was marred with trade rumors.

Brook for Dwight. Brook for Carmelo. Brook for draft picks. The narrative always had him in a perpetual waiting room.

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Despite the constant questions about his future with the team, he still played every game with the same intensity, averaging 18.6 points and 7 rebounds per game.

Early on his huge frame led to a domination of the paint on offense, and the NBA took notice. He earned a spot on the 2009 All-Rookie Team as well as a spot on the 2013 Eastern Conference All-Star squad.

After two serious foot injuries sidelined him for almost all of the 2010 and 2013 season, he has remained in good health, playing over 70 games every season since 2014.

As his career rolls on, he has become a threat from the mid-range and the 3-point line. In the first seven years of his career, he had attempted 31 total 3-point shots.

He dwarfed that in his last year with the Nets, making a little under half of them, no doubt because of Kenny Atkinson’s green light for everyone to let it fly.

Not exactly Dirk Nowitzki level of outside shooting for a 7-footer, but the way the league is trending, he has definitely extended his career.

While Brook Lopez stood tall in the face of a revolving door of coaches and teammates, and experienced more losing than one ever should, he was still able to enter the Nets’ top five all-time in rebounds and games played as well as become the team’s all-time leader in points and blocks.

He was traded to the Lakers last season for D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov and averaged just around 13 points per game on a rebuilding team showcasing the talents of their youth. Earlier this summer, he signed on to join the Milwaukee Bucks.

Next. 7 Hall of Famers many forget were Nets. dark

Hopefully sometime in the future, the Nets can bring him back and he can retire where he started. And hopefully he can make it into the next Star Wars film like he’s always dreamed of. Get it done, Disney.

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