Nets news: NBA players react to Spencer Dinwiddie's ACL injury

Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie is out indefinitely after suffering a partially torn right ACL.

Dinwiddie injured his knee in the third quarter of Brooklyn's loss on Sunday night against the Charlotte Hornets. He planted his leg awkwardly while driving at Hornets center Bismack Biyombo.

The seven-year NBA guard was diagnosed with a partial tear on Monday and will undergo surgery next week, the Nets announced.

After the news broke, a slew of players from around the NBA community sent well-wishes to Dinwiddie.

Prayers up @SDinwiddie_25 🙏🏽

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) December 28, 2020

Prayers go out to my guy @SDinwiddie_25 for a speedy recovery 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 https://t.co/brNIiWvEen

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) December 28, 2020

Bradley Beal with a message to Brooklyn Nets Spencer Dinwiddie after it was announced he suffered a season ending ACL injury 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/dVrEkxROoH

— Quinton Mayo (@RealQuintonMayo) December 28, 2020

Get back right killa @SDinwiddie_25 🏁

— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) December 28, 2020

Hope my guy @SDinwiddie_25 is ok.

— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) December 28, 2020

Spencer Dinwiddie will miss a significant amount of time, and his progress in rehab will determine if a return late this season is possible, sources told ESPN's Malika Andrews.

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Fortunately, there is no other damage in Dinwiddie's knee and he's expected to make a full recovery before the 2021-22 season tips off, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

As Charania noted, however, the 27-year old is looking at a $12.3 million player option for next season and could be one of the top free agents on the market despite the knee injury.

Dinwiddie is expected to make full recovery before next season. Tough loss for Nets; Dinwiddie emerged as a starter alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. With $12.3M player option in offseason, Dinwiddie has multiple choices being among the top free agents on the market. https://t.co/NDl7H6fP1J

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 28, 2020

Dinwiddie has started all three games for the Nets this campaign, averaging 6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 21.3 minutes per game. He played limited minutes in the season-opening blowout over the Golden State Warriors, but he suited up for 15 minutes on Sunday prior to leaving the game.

Dinwiddie averaged a career-high 20.6 points in 2019-20 and kept the Nets' offense afloat despite the absences of Durant and Irving. He didn't join the team in the bubble after testing positive for COVID-19 over the summer.

Caris LeVert, who started for Brooklyn last season but emerged as a Sixth Man under new head coach Steve Nash, is the likeliest option to replace Dinwiddie in the Nets' starting unit.

Brooklyn (2-1) will face off against Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies (0-2) on Monday at the Barclays Center.

NBA players react to Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie’s ACL injury