Inside The Nets

Nets' Backcourt Woes: Jacque Vaughn's Concerning Update on Dennis Smith Jr.

The Nets face a setback as Dennis Smith Jr., a key contributor off the bench, grapples with a lower back issue, adding to the team's injury concerns.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The Brooklyn Nets’ rotation continues to thin out as they face another injury, this time, to backup point guard Dennis Smith Jr. This deals a significant blow to Coach Jacque Vaughn's lineup plans, leaving the team with just one true point guard in the absence of both Smith, and starting guard Ben Simmons.

Smith is dealing with a lower back issue that the team is describing as a back sprain. The athletic point guard did not travel with the team for the road game against the Atlanta Hawks as he was scheduled for an MRI.

“You let a guy get clinically diagnosed, you hope it’s an acute injury, then you see if he can get some treatment and get back on the floor,” Vaughn said in his practice session presser. “Well, we had a couple of days of treatment and he’s not back on the floor. So then we’ll take the next step and get an MRI.”

Smith has been a stellar member of the bench mob

Lonnie Walker IV has received the most plaudits for his work off the bench because he has been shooting the extremely well. However, Smith Jr. deserves credit too, because he has been stellar with his playmaking off the bench.

Vaughn relies on the 25-year-old guard as one of the top choices to kickstart the up-tempo playing style he envisions for his team. Leveraging his exceptional athleticism, Smith excels in accelerating the pace, making precise passes, and even scoring emphatically with dunks.

He and Ben Simmons are the keys to unlocking that transition offense but both of them are dealing with back injuries of their own. The Nets are hoping for them to return as they are needed to shore up the offense.

A long-term back injury will be devastating for Brooklyn

While the team has deemed the injury as a lower-back sprain, that will usually take a few days to recover from. However, the fact there is an MRI scan happening for DSJ means there is a chance that this can turn into an unwanted long-term issue.

Losing another point guard would pose a significant setback for the Nets, especially with Simmons already coping with an injury, leaving Spencer Dinwiddie as the sole point guard. 

While two-way contract player Keon Johnson can handle the point guard role, his playmaking level is not comparable to DSJ, at least not yet.

Nets fans should remain optimistic, as the potential loss of Smith Jr. could present a major challenge for the entire organization going forward.

Ben Simmons Injury Update: Back Specialist Notes Simmons’ Injury "Not Catastrophic," Provides a Timeline of Recovery

Published
Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

Home/News