The Brooklyn Nets' season-opening loss to the Indiana Pacers is made worse by Jeremy Lin's season-ending injury during the fourth quarter of the game. After a contested layup resulted in an awkward landing, Lin knew he's done. Scrambling to check on his knee, he burst to cry after realizing it's worse than he had imagined.
On Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets announced that Lin had been diagnosed with a Ruptured Patella Tendon in the right knee, which may prevent him from playing for the rest of the season. In an interview with Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, he said, it's hard to see someone getting injured after working so hard during the summer.
Statement from the Nets GM
Brooklyn Nets' general manager Sean Marks in a statement said: "Jeremy worked tremendously hard during the offseason and in training camp and was excited for the prospects of the team this season. We feel awful that the injury will cost him the season, however, our entire organization will be there to support Jeremy in every way possible throughout his recovery."
Sean Kilpatrick also took to Instagram his sympathy for his teammate. "We just texted each-other the other night saying God is with us through any and everything we go through. By far one of the toughest things I had to see yesterday but you're going to come back 10x’s stronger," his post said.
Jeremy Lin is the second NBA star to suffer a season-ending injury during the opening season of the league.
On Tuesday, Gordon Hayward of the Boston Celtics broke his ankle in an attempt to deliver an alley-oop. While his surgery has been successful, his agent said, he doesn't expect him to return this season. Nevertheless, Hayward's attempt to start his rehabilitation began immediately after surgery.
Brooklyn Nets' new lineup
Lin's injury has prodded the team to restructure its lineup with D'Angelo Russell taking the position of a point guard.
Allan Crabbe o, on the other hand, will be the Net's starting shooting guard. Caris LeVert, who has been sidelined for most of the summer until the beginning of the new season will have to forget about his foot issues and dress up for the floor.
Just like the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets have been building their team around their star players but it becomes a totally different thing when they get injured and miss the rest of the season.
Jeremy Lin scored 18 pts. with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter. His injury may not be as gruesome as Hayward's, but looking at his reaction after checking on his knee, it's hard not to imagine the worse for the player.
