Brook Lopez was sort of looking forward to relaxing and doing nothing over All-Star weekend.
His play squashed that.
Lopez yesterday was selected for the rookie-sophomore game at the All-Star weekend in Phoenix. And while it is in no way a time to take off, relax and lounge, he gladly accepted the honor.
“Definitely,” said Lopez, who among rookies rates first in blocks (1.93), second in rebounds (7.9), is tied for third in double-doubles (8) and seventh in scoring 11.4.
“I feel good, no rookie ‘wall.’ But I was looking forward to a rest, no question. I’ll give it up for this, though. Obviously I’m excited, jazzed the whole thing. It’s a great honor.”
The Nets were ecstatic to find Lopez at No. 10 on draft night as they were certain he’d be gone, perhaps as high as No. 3. But they needed a center and Lopez has responded. He’s not the most athletic guy in town, but he has impressed with fundamental, solid low-post play. He has brought a post offensive and defensive presence they have sought for years.
“His potential is through the roof. I’m a fan,” one veteran scout said last night. “I think he should be top two in Rookie of the Year voting. It will be Rose or Mayo but if I had a vote, I’d vote for Lopez No. 1.”
The scout cautioned that he has seen Lopez far more than the other guys but “I love the things he does. He is a guy you can build around. He is a starting center, other than Dwight Howard, in the East. Can he be an All-Star? No doubt in my mind. I like him a lot.”
So do the Nets.
“He is going to be great in this league. He is a true center,” praised teammate Eduardo Najera. “He doesn’t step out and he doesn’t play that game that all centers try to play these days. He’s inside the paint. We never thought he was going to be this good this fast. And he’s only going to get better.”
So while the Nets celebrated Lopez’ choice with the rookies, there was disappointment that Yi Jianlian didn’t get voted on to the sophomore squad. Doubtful he would be healed from a broken pinkie, anyway.
“It’s great. It’s an outstanding honor, well-deserved. I’m very proud of him,” coach Lawrence Frank said. “But a little disappointed that Yi didn’t get voted on for the sophomore game. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, I think the curve he was on he would have gotten it. But I think for Brook, it’s tremendous.”
Lopez saw only one drawback in his selection for the Phoenix party. His brother Robin, picked 15th by the Suns, wasn’t taken for the rookie roster.
“But I think he’ll be doing all right in Fresno,” Lopez said, referring to that whole rest and relaxation thing.
Joining Lopez on the rookie roster are Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Miami’s Michael Beasley, Portland’s Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez, Memphis’ O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol, Clipper Eric Gordon and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. The sophs have the Knicks’ Wilson Chandler, Houston’s Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, Atlanta’s Al Horford, the Clippers’ Al Thornton, Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey and Philadelphia’s Thaddeus Young.
NOTES – Devin Harris has at least two votes for the All-Star team. Like Jim O’Brien of Indiana, Raptors coach Jay Triano said he voted for Harris, admitting it was a no-brainer. “To me it was,” Triano said. “He’s gotten a whole lot better at everything, but he is a scoring point guard for sure. That’s not to say he’s not going to find guys and this team does a great job spreading the floor and putting guys on the three-point line. And he does a nice job of finding them.”. . .Sean Williams was back with the team, first time since his re-call from D-League. Asked for comment, he smiled and made the zip-the-lip motion. . . Nets wore red instead of home white for the Chinese New Year. It was to be a Yi promotion. His broken pinkie sort of killed that.