Brooklyn Nets Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan Contract COVID-19

Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie and center DeAndre Jordan recently contracted COVID-19, leaving the Nets with some more glaring question marks.

Early this week, Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and center DeAndre Jordan contracted the Coronavirus, prompting Jordan to omit himself from the league’s conclusory segment and leaving Dinwiddie’s status unclear.

Around noon this Monday, news broke detailing Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie’s COVID-19 diagnosis via The Athletic.

Hours later, Jordan also came forward himself, stating his plans to bypass the NBA’s “Orlando bubble” games due once testing positive as well.

Although now fully recovered, their teammate Kevin Durant also contracted the pandemic-driven disease during its initial outbreak months ago. With some other names still disclosed, this recent news names Dinwiddie and Jordan the fifth and sixth Brooklyn Nets to contract the illness as far as we know.

Unlike Durant though who announced himself asymptomatic upon his diagnosis, Dinwiddie reportedly continues to deal with chest pains and a fever. But since this story and its unfortunate details flashed across our phones and television screens, Dinwiddie still responded with his undying competitiveness, illustrating his wishes to eventually play once healthy.

Dinwiddie also recently expressed his “diligent” tendencies while attempting to protect himself from the virus during his workouts, but since contracting the disease despite these efforts, he admitted his status for the league’s “bubble” game’s to finish off this year’s season remains unclear.

Obviously, Dinwiddie and Jordan’s health stands as the most paramount factor surrounding Brooklyn’s return to play, but Jordan’s already confirmed decision and Dinwiddie’s potential inability to return for any remaining games and possible playoff contests for the Nets nonetheless stand as underlying concerns.

Jordan recently snatched back the team’s starting center position from Jarrett Allen, while also making snatching up boards a habit as well, going on to lead his team within the rebounding department.

But although Jordan remains an integral component apart from Brooklyn’s basketball machine, Allen highlights the roster as an almost perfect replacement. With their numbers nearly identical to each other, Allen averaged 9.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game against Jordan’s 9.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.

With that noted, Allen highlights the roster as a perfectly shaped puzzle piece to click into the spot formerly housed by Jordan.

But during sets where Allen clocks out for a break, Jordan’s absence poises to truly hurt the team, especially with rookie center Nic Claxton now absent from the picture since deciding to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

The team now owns an open roster spot though serviced to help replace Jordan, so watch for the Nets to target some big man free agents.

For the “tech guy with a jumper,” Dinwiddie must wait at least 14 days following his most recent diagnosis to undergo any further testing aimed at potentially ending his quarantine and opening the door for him to rejoin his team.

On the contrary, Dinwiddie’s other teammate Wilson Chandler recently announced his intentions to sit things out come August, instead planning to spend the time freed up by his choice to opt-out with his family.

But if Dinwiddie failed to recover properly, the hole left behind poises to eat away at the Nets at a potentially fatal level. With Dinwiddie already serving as a replacement for Kyrie Irving, the team’s point guard supply already feels noticeably dry with the recently signed Tyler Johnson and the fan-favorite, yet unproven Chris Chiozza as the only options left as primary ball handlers.

Dinwiddie’s overall presence outside the point guard position poises to go severely missed as well. As the team’s proposed “MVP” for this year, Dinwiddie earned a career-high and team-leading 20.6 points and 6.8 assists per game.

Outside the statistical area, Dinwiddie delivered each night as well, often hitting clutch shots with ease to keep the team afloat despite missing Irving and Durant due to various injuries.

Now both as fans hoping to watch the Nets succeed once the season resumes, and also as caring supporters for Dinwiddie and Jordan off the basketball court, we all continue to root for a speedy recovery for both players.