Brook Lopez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lopez's journey began at San Joaquin Memorial High School, where he played alongside future NBA players Robin Lopez and Quincy Pondexter. After committing to Stanford in early 2005, he declared for the draft on March 31, 2008. In his rookie season (2008–09), he started all 82 games after replacing the injured Josh Boone, averaging 13.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He ranked fourth in the NBA in total blocks and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. The following season, despite the Nets starting 0–18—the worst start in NBA history—Lopez posted career highs in minutes (36.9) and rebounds (8.6). In 2011–12, he missed the first 32 games due to a broken right foot but returned to score a season-high 38 points against Dallas. By January 30, 2013, Commissioner David Stern selected him for his first All-Star appearance, replacing an injured Rajon Rondo.

In Their Own Story

The 2012–13 season marked Lopez's highest individual achievement with the Nets. On March 20, he dropped 38 points and 11 rebounds in a road win over Dallas, just one point shy of his career high of 39 set earlier that month. That year, he averaged 19.4 points and 6.9 rebounds while setting a new career high with 2.1 blocks per game. The Nets secured the fourth seed in the East with 49 wins, though they were eliminated in a seven-game first-round series by the Chicago Bulls. Lopez played all seven playoff games, averaging 22.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. In the 2014–15 season, he made history on December 8 by becoming only the sixth player to record 400 starts for the franchise. Later that month, in a loss to Washington, he passed Vince Carter for second all-time in franchise field goals made with 3,127. On March 20, 2015, he recorded 32 points and a season-high 18 rebounds in a triple-overtime victory over Milwaukee.

Reader's Guide

Brook Lopez played nine seasons with the Nets before opting out of his contract on June 26, 2015. On July 9, 2015, he re-signed to a three-year deal. During his final years, he navigated injuries, including a foot injury in December 2013 that ended his season early and a lower back strain in late 2014. In the 2013–14 campaign, he played only 17 games due to injury but maintained strong efficiency, shooting 56.3% from the field. Despite missing time, he remained a focal point of the offense, often scoring over 20 points in key victories against teams like Cleveland and Phoenix. His departure as a free agent in 2015 ended his run as the franchise's leading scorer, a record established during his nine-year tenure.

Did You Know?

• Lopez was selected as the 10th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, while his twin brother Robin was picked 15th by the Phoenix Suns.
• During the 2009–10 season, the Nets started 0–18, the worst start to a season in NBA history at that time.
• Lopez scored 38 points against Dallas on March 20, 2013, just one point shy of his career high of 39.
• He became the sixth player in franchise history to make 400 starts for the Nets on December 8, 2015.
• Lopez passed Vince Carter for second place in all-time field goals made by a Net (3,127) on December 26, 2015.