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Five weeks after he went down with a strained hamstring, Jeremy Lin finally returned to practice Friday. Kenny Atkinson did not provide a timetable but said he would not play Saturday night in San Antonio vs. the Spurs.
Atkinson said of Lin, "He looked good out there. He moved well. I was a little nervous playing him because it has been so long.
"No timetable, I think we're just...after practicing today, we'll see how he looks tomorrow and get feedback from our medical team and our performance team. I think he's thrilled just to be out there just to mix it up a little bit."
As Atkinson told reporters...
.@JLin7 has returned to practice with the squad. #BrooklynGrit pic.twitter.com/h8NOGWDsWa
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 10, 2016
Lin went down November 2, when the Nets were 2-3. They played well initially but then collapsed as both his back-ups — Greivis Vasquez and Isaiah Whitehead joined him on the trainers table, Vasquez with recurring ankle problems and Whitehead with a concussion. Vasquez was later bought out when it was determined he needed ankle surgery.
The Nets are 4-12 since Lin went down.
Brooklyn has four games next week, vs. the Rockets on Monday away; the Lakers Wednesday at home; followed by the Magic on Friday and the 76ers on Sunday both away. Lin of course played for both the Rockets and Lakers.
Meanwhile, Lin’s new backup, Spencer Dinwiddie, a 6’6" combo guard called up from the D-League, practiced today as well.
"It's gives us another chance to look at a guy who's been good in the D League. It was a smart move by Sean," said Atkinson of Sean Marks, the Nets GM.
Barring any setbacks or new injuries, the Nets should be fully healthy for the first time this season when Lin steps on the court.
Atkinson also praised Caris LeVert, who made his NBA debut on Wednesday, grabbing four rebounds and garnering three steals in less than 10 minute. He hadn’t played since last December when he broke his left foot in a game at Michigan.
"For a kid who hasn't played in a long time to come out and look like an NBA player, I look at that as a real positive," said the coach.
Some clips of Lin back at practice:
LIN & LEVERT GO ONE-ON-ONE
Nice move from Caris LeVert on Jeremy Lin. They've been playing 1 on 1 for a while now. #Nets pic.twitter.com/vezstziKXL
— Bryan Fonseca (@BryanFonsecaNY) December 9, 2016
Some of the full court one on one between Caris LeVert and Jeremy Lin. #Nets pic.twitter.com/Z6VnYSEb7Z
— Bryan Fonseca (@BryanFonsecaNY) December 9, 2016
- Jeremy Lin Finally Returns to Nets Practice! - Matthew Pisani - Brook-Lin