National Basketball Association

Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez Embracing Leadership Role

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez is among the oldest players on this newly assembled roster. As such, Lopez is embracing the opportunity to lead some of Brooklyn’s younger players.

Having been drafted in 2008, Brook Lopez is the longest tenured player on the Brooklyn Nets roster. Of course, the Nets have had plenty of turnover, so it isn’t a shock that Lopez is their longest tenured player, but it does illustrate how Lopez’s career is evolving.

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Lopez is no longer a young player with an entire career ahead of him. That’s not to say Lopez is old — on the contrary, he is in the prime of his career — but at 28, Lopez is no longer looking up to others. Instead, he has young players looking up to him. Lopez, along with Jeremy Lin and Randy Foye, is being counted on to be a leader on this young Nets squad.

On the subject of leadership, Lopez recently spoke to NBA.com regarding what it’s like to transition to a leadership role. “Have you ever seen that meme where it’s like 21, yeah alright! 22, yay! 23, yay! 24, wait. 25, please. 26, make it stop, and it just keeps happening and I guess I’m here now” Lopez said. “I guess you have to embrace aging, right?”

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Lopez is in an interesting position. This was, and still is in many eyes, Lopez’s team. He’s the longest tenured player, a Nets staple. Of course, the signing of Lin may be a changing of the guard to some. But Lopez has been around long enough that he has valuable experience to share with young players, even if the Nets aren’t grooming a young center on the roster.

“It’s interesting,” Lopez said of being a leader. “It’s definitely a different look for me. I’m just trying to be out there and lead on the court. I’m just trying to lead by example and be more vocal as well.”

As far as leadership goes, those are two excellent qualities. When the Nets’ younger players see Lopez work hard in practice, it will set a precedent that they, too, need to work hard. If something needs to be said on the court or during a timeout, Lopez is in a position where he can step up and be vocal.

Kenny Atkinson said Lopez has already taken it upon himself to help younger players when needed. “Up in Boston he was talking to the young guys and when there was a screw up on a pin-down defense Brook was talking to our younger guys — politely — this is how we’re doing it. It helps me, him telling the younger guys about our principles.”

The Nets will not only rely on Lopez to produce at a high level consistently, but to also hold his teammates accountable when necessary. Lopez is already among Brooklyn’s best players, but he’s working to become one of their best leaders, as well.

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