Inside The Nets

Nets rookie Dariq Whitehead to undergo shin surgery, out for rest of 23-24 season

Nets rookie set to take his third surgery in two years.

Peter Sunjic

© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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An unfortunate start to his NBA career comes in for Dariq Whitehead as he will undergo a season-ending surgery.

Before their eventual victory on Saturday against the Houston Rockets, coach Jacque Vaughn announced that the Brooklyn Nets rookie would take a procedure to address the stress reaction in his left shin.

“He’s actually going to have season-ending surgery on Monday to address the stress reaction,” Vaughn said. 

“But all signs and diagnosis and consultation: He’ll miss the rest of this season. And then, gear towards finishing and being ready to complete his career and with us, playing. Meaning that he’s just gonna get through these months of rehab, and look forward to him being back on the floor.”

A challenging stretch in Dariq’s young career due to injuries

Whitehead is one of the prized prospects of the Nets this season, as the franchise picked him as the 22nd selection of last year's NBA Draft.

A standout swingman from Duke, the 19-year-old only appeared for two games this season. He mostly played his 2023-24 campaign for Brooklyn's G League team, Long Island Nets, averaging 8.8 points and 2.9 boards in 18.5 minutes across 17 games.

His upcoming surgery will mark the third time that he'll undergo a medical procedure to fix his lower leg. He first took one during his lone year with the Blue Devils to address the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. But it didn't heal well, and he eventually underwent another surgery prior to last year's draft, which ultimately barred him from missing the entire Summer League and training camp activities of the Nets.

Summer League availability: TBD

When asked if Dariq could still have a chance to play in this year's Summer League for Brooklyn, coach JV didn't air his own speculation as he will base it on the success of the surgery and the healing progress that the 19-year-old will take.

With a talented young cager who came out of his high school class as a five-star recruit, the Nets can only truly hope that Whitehead will be able to seize positive progress in his impending recovery.

“After the surgery on Monday, we’ll probably have an update on how the surgery went and have some more details for you,” Vaughn noted.

Ben Simmons is confident he can contribute to the Nets when he returns

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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.

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