Nets’ Dariq Whitehead making progress in foot rehab as he inches closer to return

Nets rookie Dariq Whitehead wouldn’t give specifics on his rehab from foot surgical procedure or be pinned all the way down to a timetable for his return to the court docket. 

However with the crew anticipating Whitehead to be prepared for the beginning of coaching camp, he hasn’t finished or stated something to dampen these hopes.

The New Jersey-bred, first-round choose was strolling amongst followers at Sunday’s Ticketmaster x Nets Plaza Get together occasion at Barclays Heart and not using a limp or a boot, and he insisted he’s progressing by the day. 

“Rehab goes nice. Foot feeling good. Positively not attempting to offer it a particular timetable proper now, simply attempting to take it day-to-day,” stated Whitehead, a Newark native. “However all the pieces’s feeling good, and simply wanting ahead to approaching the season, getting again to one hundred pc.” 

The No. 2-ranked highschool participant whereas at Florida’s Montverde Academy, Whitehead had been anticipated to spend a 12 months at Duke and change into a lottery choose, maybe even a top-five choice.

However foot woes slowed him and ultimately required a number of surgical procedures, the final on June 7 as Nets foot specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley carried out a revision operation with bone grafting for a fifth metatarsal Jones fracture. 

“He’ll start his rehab course of in two weeks and needs to be prepared for full participation firstly of NBA coaching camp,” O’Malley had stated on the time. 

The Nets drafted Whitehead No. 22 general on the finish of June, making him the youngest choose in franchise historical past at 18 years, 327 days outdated. 

Whitehead clearly didn’t take part in Las Vegas Summer season League since he was rehabbing.

However at this weekend’s occasion, he smiled when speaking about having gotten out of his strolling boot and added he’s making progress. 

“Fundamental factor is simply ensuring my foot is the place it must be to be able to progress day-to-day,” Whitehead stated. “So like I stated, I can’t undoubtedly give a timetable on what’s going to occur. However we’ve been progressing at a terrific fee day-to-day, week by week.” 

From the second the Nets took Whitehead — harking back to their 2016 upside gamble on Caris LeVert — coach Jacque Vaughn has preached the significance of persistence, not simply the crew’s persistence with the younger wing however from Whitehead himself. 

“While you’re injured, you all the time have that urge to need to get on the market and be on the market on the court docket with the fellows,” Whitehead stated. “However that’s one thing coach Jacque has preached to me for the reason that first day I stepped within the door, about it’s a marathon not a [sprint] race. 

“So simply understanding that I’ve bought to be affected person and take my time with it, and listening to that come from him, makes it a bit extra assuring that, alright, simply take my time, get again to the place I must be, and all the pieces will work out the best way it’s imagined to.” 

So Whitehead has targeted on getting his foot one hundred pc.

He joined the summer season league crew in Las Vegas, buying and selling in taking part in video games for taking part in cheerleader.

His teammates talked about how supportive he was from the bench, and Whitehead added he was “a sponge” absorbing information from older gamers, noting how a lot sooner the sport was on the professional degree. 

“I feel for him, it’s expertise he’ll get when he [gets back],” stated fellow rookie Noah Clowney. “I don’t know when he’s coming again … [but] when he will get observe in, he’ll hit. He’ll alter shortly. He’s been taking part in at a excessive degree for a very long time.”