The Brooklyn Nets fell victim to the injury bug in all four seasons of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. That bad fortune quickly carried over to their 2023-24 campaign. Brooklyn lost Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson for extended periods after the first game of the year. When both returned this past weekend, Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons were sidelined.

An inauspicious start nearly became a nightmare when Lonnie Walker IV exited with a knee injury during the first quarter of Sunday's win over the Washington Wizards.

The absences of Thomas and Simmons left a massive hole in the Nets' ball-handling and shot creation. Walker, who signed for the minimum this offseason, has been a revelation in both areas early this year. Entering Sunday, the 24-year-old had been among the most productive bench players in the league, averaging 16.8 points on 54/46/77 shooting splits while playing just 22.4 minutes per game.

After the play, Walker remained down for an extended period, clutching his knee before limping to the locker room. However, he would return for the second half, contributing five points in the third quarter.

Following the injury scare, Walker revealed he's been dealing with a painful knee ailment since Brooklyn's second game of the year.

“My knee has just been sore since game two and in a lot of pain. Just been playing through it for the most part, damn near playing on one leg,” Walker said postgame. “Just reaggravated it a little bit today. But for the most part, I’m good. I got back on the court and finished the game. That’s the positive end, I’m back playing. I don’t see myself missing any games.”

Walker missed a month with the Los Angeles Lakers last season due to tendinitis in the same knee. However, he called this year's ailment a new injury and declined to expand when asked about its nature.

“Just a little new injury. Really don’t got a real answer for that,” he said. “Just popped up in the Miami game. First time really having this type of injury, but it’s good, I’ll be good. It’s starting to subside day by day, which is most important. Just gotta keep taking care of it, keep talking to god, keep playing. In the long run, it’s gonna be better and better.”

Despite a difficult schedule and a string of injuries to their top players, the Nets are .500 through 10 games. Walker's three-level scoring off the bench has played a significant role in Brooklyn's success. The former first-round pick has excelled as a pick-and-roll ball-handler and spot-up threat, shooting 48 percent from three and the mid-range while converting 62 percent of his shots at the rim, per Cleaning the Glass.

His quick first step and athletic finishing ability have added much-needed rim pressure for a Nets team that ranked 29th in shots at the rim last season.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Nets Jordi Fernandez next to Juwan Howard

Erik Slater ·

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray appearing at an airport with bags packed and a plane ticket in hand

Fabian Diego Miguel de la Paz ·

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez

Erik Slater ·

Walker recognizes the importance of availability amid Brooklyn's slew of injuries early this season. While he admitted his knee has caused him substantial pain, he doesn't envision himself missing any time.

“It’ll do its job. I’ll be ready for next game,” he said of his knee. “If my leg's not broken, I’m gonna keep playing. My pops always used to say, ‘Just keep drinking water.’ I don’t know how that equates to this injury, but we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”

“I don’t feel obligated (to play through pain) but I know I gotta do it for my team. If I have the ability to still run and jump and do things, no matter how sore I am, no matter how hurt I am, I’m gonna give it 110 percent. If I can’t go, that means I literally am dying at that point. Knock on wood. I wanna give this team my all, I wanna give this organization my all. That’s just my mindset.”