MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Nets winger Choi Yong-hee (broadcast as Jackie Qui) will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
The 6-foot-7 shooting guard, who is on a two-year, two-way contract, is expected to make a full recovery next season.
“Yeah, definitely we don't want to see that in anyone,” head coach Jordi Fernandes said. “But the reality is that this is just part of professional sport. We will support him. He will receive the necessary treatment and then he will recover.
“He's got to stay positive. For the most part, we all reached out to him. … He's doing well. He's a positive kid. And we're doing everything we need to help him recover.” I'll do whatever it takes. And it's part of life.”
The Nets won't automatically get a spot to replace Quy.
They would have to fire him and would be obligated to just pay him both ways. However, he remains on the roster and there is no indication that he will change anytime soon.
Nets owner Joe Tsai, co-founder and chairman of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has made no secret of his desire to sign Chinese players for both Brooklyn and Liberty.
Cui, 21, is widely considered the most promising young player on the Chinese national team.
Coincidentally, Choi's next appearance for Brooklyn will most likely be next year's preseason trip to his home country. The Nets will play several games against Phoenix in Macau on October 10th and October 12th.
Choi was injured in the first half of Wednesday's game against Long Island.
He played just 10 minutes for Brooklyn in five NBA cameos, scoring three points on 1-of-7 shooting, but had recently begun to show some progress in the G League.
In his last game before getting injured, he had 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.
“He's a guy who brings positive energy every day,” Fernandez said. There's a smile on his face. He just brings happiness and is ready to work and every group needs that positive energy, work ethic. And he got better day by day. ”
On Friday, the Nets started Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton, Keon Johnson and Dennis Schroder in a 135-119 loss to Memphis.
After using the same quintet for Sunday's game against Milwaukee, the team's record for using a unique starting lineup for 10 consecutive games ended.
Trendon Watford was a healthy DNP.
Fernandez said Noah Clowney is working toward his return and will likely receive most of the rotation minutes on Friday.
But when they went to him on the bench, he wasn't slacking off.
“He didn't mind playing. I didn't want to risk getting hurt or anything,” Fernandez said. “He has to be ready. He has to be loose. When he's on the bench, he has to be ready. And if he's not, it's hard to play.”
Bojan Bogdanovic, Cam Thomas and Ziare Williams are out. Darik Whitehead, two-way forward Jalen Martin and Tyrese Martin all played in the G League, while Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson and Zach Eadie (left ankle sprain) were ruled out for the game against Memphis.
“Right now, he's not going to get better on the court, but by learning how to recover, staying in shape despite his limitations, being part of a group, learning from the league, watching the NBA… “We Can Be Better,'' games, watching the G League. So all he can do is keep doing it. We can encourage him to do so. If possible, you can take him by your side. And that's all we can do now. ”
On Friday, the Nets started Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton, Keon Johnson and Dennis Schroder in a 135-119 loss to Memphis.
After using the same quintet for Sunday's game against Milwaukee, the team's record for using a unique starting lineup for 10 consecutive games ended.
Trendon Watford was a healthy DNP. Fernandez said Noah Clowney is working toward his return and will likely receive most of the rotation minutes on Friday.
But when they went to him on the bench, he wasn't slacking off.
“He didn't mind playing. I didn't want to risk getting hurt or anything,” Fernandez said. “He has to be ready. He has to be loose. When he's on the bench, he has to be ready. And if he's not, it's hard to play.”
Bojan Bogdanovic, Cam Thomas and Ziare Williams are out. Darik Whitehead, two-way forward Jalen Martin and Tyrese Martin all played in the G League, while Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson and Zach Eadie (left ankle sprain) were ruled out for the game against Memphis.
