Maybe at some point the Nets as a whole will be healthy.
Leading scorer Cam Thomas, who missed Tuesday's win over Charlotte with a lower back strain, is likely to play in Friday's game at Philadelphia.
“I feel better,” Thomas said after Thursday's practice in Brooklyn.
Asked if he thought he would be available Friday, Thomas said, “We'll see.” Thomas initially felt tightness in his back against the Knicks on Sunday, but played through it in the second half.
“It definitely influenced me,” Thomas said. “We tried to play until the end…but we weren't as explosive and they double-teamed us the whole game so we didn't really understand what it was like.”
The situation became even more difficult on Monday, and he was unable to play on Tuesday, but there is a possibility that he will return on Friday.
The same goes for Nick Claxton, who missed more than a week with lower back tightness. Claxton returned to practice Thursday but was listed as questionable for Friday practice.
The mystery surrounding Dayron Sharpe, who has been sidelined all season with a left hamstring injury, continues to grow.
The team announced Thursday that Sharp has progressed to one-on-one training with coaches and will be “integrated into team activities within the next seven to 10 days.”
Head coach Jordi Fernandez said Sharpe “looks good. … We're happy with his progress.”
As part of team bonding, the Nets introduced a football helmet display near the practice court, with each player on the 18-man roster getting a helmet with a sticker that positively impacts the team.
“This is a way to recognize the work of the players and what they do for the team that you don't necessarily see in general statistics,” Fernandez said.
Stickers can be used for personal milestones or weight room work.
Fernandez said the idea is popular with players.
Dennis Schröder praised Fernandes and his staff for their transfer and the way they have run the team this season.
“It’s different,” the veteran guard said of the helmet. “After the game, people have chains on, but we have helmets.”
But more than that, Schroeder is impressed with the team's efforts.
“I've been in the league for 12 years and this was my first time in a training camp like ours,” Schroder said. “It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm from Europe so I'm used to it, but the structure came in and I was able to set the tone early on.”
