Nets' Day'Ron Sharpe latest player to return from injury as team continues to get healthy
Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe holds his knee after an injury in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Barclays Center on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Day’Ron Sharpe did some jumping drills following Monday's practice. A ball was bounced high off the ground towards him and he leaped up like he was grabbing a rebound.
Sharpe needed the work since he'll be available on Tuesday night when the Nets host the Celtics. It's his first game back since hyperextending his left knee on Jan. 7 against Portland. Coach Jacque Vaughn added that Sharpe will be on a minutes restriction.
“It just felt good, just to sweat and get tired, for real,” Sharpe said. “I just missed the grind, I missed playing. I'm happy to be back.”
Sharpe and Mikal Bridges were the lone Nets to appear in every game prior to his injury. Sharpe missed 15 games, which paused a breakout season for the third-year big man averaging career-highs in points (7.5) and rebounds (7.0).
His return gives the Nets much needed height and a key reserve against a Celtics team that leads the NBA in rebounding. Sharpe, along with everyone else on the roster, has to get used to playing with newly acquired Dennis Schroder. Schroder had 15 points and 12 assists in his Nets debut on Saturday against the Spurs.
“Day’Ron gives us the ability to be in different coverages as well. So we'll see how that fits,” Vaughn said. “We got a little bit of ground to make up as far as figuring out things on both ends of the floor.”
Sharpe thought he’d only be out a short while, and the Nets said he would be re-evaluated in two weeks. That turned into scattered updates over the next three weeks as he was often working out alone doing non-contact drills.
"I’ve been fiending, man,” said Sharpe describing his mood the past month. “Every day I'm watching the game, I'm like, trying to jump through the TV, get on the floor type thing. You know, just happy to be back.
“I didn't think I would be out this long. But you know, it could have been worse, God forbid."
Sharpe’s return brings the Nets closer to full health, with another key player on the mend.
Cam Johnson, who will miss his fourth straight game with a left hip strain Tuesday night, participated in light 5-on-5 work on Monday. Vaughn said his status is yet to be determined for the second game of a home-and-home against the Celtics on Wednesday, the Nets’ final game before the All-Star break.
Overall, the Nets have gotten healthier over the last few games. Dorian Finney-Smith returned Saturday after missing six games with a sprained ankle. Ben Simmons is set to play his sixth game back on Tuesday, matching the total he played prior to his back injury in November.
Vaughn joked about the timing with guys being healthy in time to enjoy the break. But for the Nets, it’s critical since they haven’t had their full lineup healthy after the season opener.
“[It’s] the most vital thing for us going forward,” Vaughn said. “It gives us a chance to figure out our combinations, who's going to play rotations, to use our depth and to figure out what’s beneficial on both ends of the floor. So it's a good sign that we're getting healthy going into the break.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
More Brooklyn Nets
