Jarrett Jack suffers torn ACL knee injury

Jarrett Jack suffers torn ACL knee injury

A tough season for the Brooklyn Nets just got tougher.

Nets guard Jarrett Jack has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and small medial meniscus tear in his right knee. The injury occurred during the second half of the Nets’ game at Boston on Saturday, January 2. Jack will miss the remainder of the season and will undergo surgery on a date that has yet to be determined.

Jack has played and started in 32 games for Brooklyn this season, posting averages of 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and a team-high 7.4 assists per game.

The Nets are 10-23 this season – the third worst record in the league.

Brook Lopez puts up big game against Celtics

Brook Lopez’s size was too much for Boston’s smaller lineup.

The 7-footer scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading the Brooklyn Nets to a 100-97 victory over the Celtics on Saturday.

“I did my best to make the right play every time, realizing that, and just tried to read the double teams,” said Lopez, who scored seven of his points in a key 9-2 run when Boston was making its charge with a smaller, trapping lineup…

Joe Johnson added 20 points, Thaddeus Young 16 with 10 boards, and Bojan Bogdanovic 13 points for the Nets, who won for just the third time in 11 games.

— Associated Press

Mikhail Prokhorov now owns 100 percent of Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center

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Per the following press release, Mikhail Prokhorov’s company now owns 100 percent of the Brooklyn Nets team and the Barclays Center arena. According to CNBC, the deal values the team at $875 million and the arena at $825 million.

Onexim Sports and Entertainment Holding USA, Inc. today has signed an agreement with Nets Sports and Entertainment, LLC, an entity controlled by Forest City Enterprises, to consolidate a 100 percent equity interest in Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets. The transaction was approved unanimously by the NBA’s Board of Governors earlier this month.

In 2010, Onexim acquired 80 percent of the team and 45 percent of the arena. Since the arena opened in 2012, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment has managed the team and the arena and will continue to do so under the new structure.

Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of Onexim, said, “Today’s deal brings the ownership structure of the Brooklyn Nets and their state-of-the-art home in line with NBA guidelines and comes at an opportune time for all involved. We have enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Forest City and Bruce Ratner and worked together to open one of the most successful arenas in the country and to bring professional sports back to Brooklyn. We will continue to support arena management to provide a high level of service to our fans and the best sports and entertainment experience in the world. We also remain fully committed to community programs that were created as part of the arena. We believe a successful arena must be a destination, but also be part of the communities that surround it and more broadly the collection of neighborhoods that represent Brooklyn.”

Bruce Ratner, Executive Chairman of Forest City’s New York subsidiary, Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), added, “The development of Barclays Center enabled the return of major league professional sports and world-class entertainment to Brooklyn, and in just over three years of operation, it has become one of the top-grossing arenas in the country. As an anchor for the continued development of Pacific Park Brooklyn, Barclays Center stands as an iconic landmark for the borough.”

“It’s a seamless transition due to the incredible partnership between Onexim and Forest City over the years,” said Brett Yormark, Chief Executive Officer of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “Exciting times are ahead for our fans, partners, and employees as we continue to improve and grow all of our businesses.”

The parties expect to complete the transaction either late this year or early in 2016.

Star Wars night at Barclays Center

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on tonight’s Magic at Brooklyn Nets game:

The Nets’ Brook Lopez had reason to feel excited about Monday night.

First, the Magic-Nets game was Star Wars Night at Barclays Center, and Lopez loves Star Wars.

The Nets also distributed Brook Lopez bobbleheads to the first 10,000 fans.

Lopez, a 7-foot center who loves the sci-fi genre and all things Disney, had seen the doll before Monday. The bobblehead features him wearing a Jedi robe, a Nets jersey and Nets warm-up pants. His likeness also wields a blue lightsaber, which is the same color lightsaber Luke Skywalker had in “A New Hope” and in “The Empire Strikes Back.”

Nets do not hit three-pointers

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the 7-16 Brooklyn Nets, who are a solid 6-5 at home but just 1-11 on the road, and are bricking three-point shots all season so far:

Nets do not hit three-pointers

The Nets went into Sunday dead last in the NBA in 3-pointers (111), attempts (365) and shooting percentage (.304). To put that in sobering perspective, they had made 16 fewer 3s than Stephen Curry had made all by himself.

The Nets aren’t likely to all of a sudden turn into the Warriors, but they can’t expect Lopez and Thaddeus Young to never have off nights. They will need to find ways to generate perimeter offense, starting Monday against the Magic.

“We’re just trying to get ourselves open looks. The percentages go up when you get open looks, so move the ball, swing the ball around and if we don’t get open looks we drive,’’ Young said. “Guys are doing a very good job against us in terms of guarding the 3-point line. They’re running us off. When we catch the ball, we just have to be ready to shoot and make a play.’’

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has ankle surgery

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson undergoes ankle surgery

Brooklyn Nets rookie guard/forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson underwent successful surgery this morning at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan to repair the fractured posterior talus in his right ankle. The procedure was performed by Nets’ team physician Dr. Martin O’Malley, the Nets’ foot and ankle specialist.

Statement from Dr. Martin O’Malley:

“Rondae had surgery this morning to repair a fracture of the posterior talus in his right ankle. Two screws were inserted to repair the fracture. There was no other structural damage, and he is expected to make a complete recovery, with a timetable of his return to the court estimated at 8-10 weeks.”

In 19 games (14 starts) this season, Hollis-Jefferson has averaged 5.2 points, 6.1 rebounds (fourth among qualifying rookies), 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals (first among qualifying rookies) in 22.1 minutes per game. He’s scored in double figures three times, recorded double digit rebounds five times and is the only rookie in the league to register a five-steal game (he’s posted two such games).

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson suffers ankle fracture, needs surgery

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson suffers ankle fracture, needs surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of the posterior talus in his right ankle, according to General Manager Billy King. The injury occurred during practice on Saturday, December 5.

Hollis-Jefferson will undergo surgery this week, and a timetable for his return will be established following the procedure.

It’s been a very tough season for the 5-15 Nets, but a bright spot has been rookie Hollis-Jefferson’s solid play, especially on the defensive end. In 19 games (14 starts) this season, Hollis-Jefferson has averaged 5.2 points, 6.1 rebounds (fourth among qualifying rookies), 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals (first among qualifying rookies) in 22.1 minutes per game. He’s scored in double figures three times, recorded double digit rebounds five times and is the only rookie in the league to register a five-steal game (he’s posted two such games).

Various Nets impressed by Kristaps Porzingis

New York Knicks rookie power forward Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 13.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this season, and is improving regularly. He has the attention of the league, and certainly players right nearby on the Nets. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Various Nets compliment Kristaps Porzingis

While Kristaps Porzingis was busy throwing shade at Brooklyn — saying the Knicks had the better fans — the Nets were throwing bouquets at him. And with the rivals set to face off Friday in the Garden, Nets point guard Jarrett Jack tapped the 20-year-old big man as the favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year.

“Clearly, I think he’s the clear case for Rookie of the Year right now. I would believe so, with all the naysayers in the beginning, and then him coming out and just playing hard,’’ Jack said. “Sure, he has some skills to go with it, but from what I’ve seen, he puts himself in position to get tip-dunks. I’ve seen him in situations where he’s gotten steals on the break, making plays.” …

“I’ve been watching him. He’s very, very good,’’ said power forward Thaddeus Young, who will start matched up vs. Porzingis.

Robin Lopez says Brook Lopez`s cat is very two-faced

Now this is a huge story that may shake up the entire sports world. It will certainly create drama out in the streets. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Robin Lopez says Brook Lopez`s cat is very two-faced

Leading up to Friday’s Nets vs. Knicks face-off, two of the competing athletes are having a real catfight.

The Knicks’ new 7-foot center, Robin Lopez, has harsh words about his twin brother, Brook, who plays for the crosstown competition.

More specifically, he’s trash-talking his sibling’s pet.

“Brook’s cat is very two-faced,” Robin tells The Post. “Everybody loves Brook’s cat. To everybody’s face, he’s such a nice cat. And it may sound like I’m joking, but I am dead serious. He acts like a lazy, sweet cat when everybody is looking. But when their heads turn, he’ll try to chase after [my cat] Edward. The second I lay eyes on him, he’ll act like, ‘I’m a cherub. I’m innocent.’ I’m not buying it.”

In fact, the brothers don’t live together because of their felines: Brook’s kitty Poupin — French for “chubby” — and Robin’s majestically monikered Prince Edward Zephyr.

Nets beat Rockets for first win of season

Coach Lionel Hollins and the Brooklyn Nets have been working hard all season with nothing to show for it.

That work finally paid off Wednesday night with their first win of the season.

Bojan Bogdanovic came off the bench to score a season-high 22 points with nine rebounds and lead the Nets to a 106-98 victory over the Houston Rockets…

Joe Johnson added 16 points and 10 assists for Brooklyn. Brook Lopez had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

— AP