With his 25-point performance in a loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday, Brook Lopez moved ahead of Buck Williams to become the Brooklyn Nets’ all-time leading scorer. It was the highlight of an otherwise fruitless season for a league-worst Nets team that does not own its first-round pick this season or next.
Brook Lopez, the Nets’ all-time leading scorer, has been the best part of the franchise’s fruitless decade
Lopez moved past Buck Williams on Monday, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest Nets to ever play.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Lopez scored point No. 10,442 in the fourth quarter when he got a turnaround, fadeaway jump shot over Al Horford to bounce in. He had taken Horford’s food all night long before his record-setting basket.
Lopez passed Williams’ mark in 73 fewer games and has scored more points in a Nets jersey than Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, and Dr. J. He’s one of just a handful of franchise scoring leaders to never score 40 points, a list that only includes Mike Conley and Dell Curry.
Buck WIlliams told the New York Post he “didn’t anticipate the record standing for 27 years,” that it was “an honor for me to be mentioned with a young guy like that, who’s had a career like that.
“He’s a good player, a good person, who kept his head down and worked hard like I did. I can’t think of a better player to break my record.”
Lopez is also the franchise leader with 972 blocked shots. After making just three triples in his first eight seasons, Lopez turned around and nailed 134 — the most of any center this season. He also became the first player in NBA history to make six threes and block eight shots in ONE game.
That’s a lot for a guy who’s survived trade rumors year after year.
Every season, Lopez’s name flies around in trade rumors. In 2015, the talented center was nearly dealt to the Oklahoma City for point guard Reggie Jackson. But that deal fell apart at the last minute, and Jackson was later shipped to the Detroit Pistons.
This season, Lopez again swirled around in trade talks. Brooklyn discussed trade options with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Indiana Pacers, but never pulled the trigger on a deal.
His longevity in a Nets jersey is a testament to his value. Even if the Nets wanted to move Lopez, his talent level made it almost impossible to get an even return.
In honor of his historic year, we look back at some of the highlight moments of Lopez’s career.
When he took all of Rodney McGruder’s dreams and aspirations in one merciless block
When he destroyed the Pistons’ playoff hopes with a one-footed buzzer beater
When he chose Serge Ibaka in a fight over his brother
When he dunked on his brother, Robin Lopez
When that dunk paled in comparison to the first time he dunked on his brother
When he tipped in Shane Larkin’s layup to beat the Nuggets
When he made six threes and blocked eight shots in one game
Congratulations on making history, Brook.
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