Injury Interrupts UNC Product's Career-Best Season

Originally posted on North Carolina Tar Heels on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated 1/9/24

Day'Ron Sharpe is one of only two players who have seen action in all 37 games for the Brooklyn Nets (16-21) this season. But the 2020-21 UNC basketball center won't be with the team for its trip to Paris, where Brooklyn will face the Cleveland Cavaliers (21-15) in Accor Arena at 2 p.m. ET Thursday.

The 22-year-old Sharpe, in his third season with the Nets since getting drafted No. 29 overall in 2021 following his one-and-done Tar Heel campaign, hyperextended his left knee during Sunday's home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

On Monday, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported that "it's unclear how long [Sharpe] will be out." However, it looks like the Greenville, N.C., native will be sidelined for at least two weeks, as that's when the team plans to reevaluate the status of his injury:

As alluded to above, Sharpe, the Nets' primary backup at center, has been a durable, promising piece to the squad's rotation this go-round. He's averaging career-high stats across the board: 7.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.9 blocks in 16.0 minutes per outing off the bench.

Brooklyn's other UNC basketball talent, 27-year-old starting forward Cam Johnson, has played 29 games this season, averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

If the regular season ended now, the Nets, No. 10 in the Eastern Conference standings, would sneak into the NBA Play-In Tournament.

This article first appeared on North Carolina Tar Heels on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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