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Though the Nets felt their backcourt was All-Star worthy, the biggest snub on the team was clearly Lopez, who leads all NBA centers in scoring and entered last night’s action as the only player averaging more than 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. “I just thought Brook should have made it,” Williams said. “I thought he was an All-Star this year. He’s been the most consistent for us all year and has played consistent basketball, so for him to not make it, we feel hurt for him. That’s the main thing.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, All Star Game 

Marshon Brooks: Best thing about Brook, he really doesn't care!! I'm pissed tho, he deserves it... Twitter @Marshon2

Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks 

Marshon Brooks: Naw a center playing better basketball than Brook Lopez right now??? Don't worry, I'll wait... Twitter @Marshon2

Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks, All Star Game 

Nets center Brook Lopez started laughing before the question was even finished being asked. The latest rumor linking Lopez with Dwight Howard of the Lakers in a trade left him more amused than annoyed. And not for the first time. “I was at that point a long time ago,” he said before the Nets faced the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night at Target Center. “I don’t pay any attention to what the media says. I just go about my business and focus on what’s important here.” New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Brook Lopez 

Peter Vecsey: No trade talk took place tween LA/BK re DH/Lopez, won't be any & wouldn't have been any alleged chat had KL stayed active. Can't B clearer! Twitter @PeterVecsey1

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez 

When Deron Williams caught wind of the latest Dwight Howard trade rumors, he felt compelled to chat with his teammate, Brook Lopez, who is always on the other side of these things. “You can’t get a break, huh?” Williams told him. “No matter what you do.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

Lopez is having the best season of his career, blossoming into an aggressive defender and an All-Star candidate. The Nets are a lot happier with having Lopez over Howard – who has become a running joke amongst players – than they were last season. “We’re happy with Brook,” Williams said. “Brook is our center. He’s having an All-Star year. I don’t see Brook going anywhere.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

“(Lopez and I) talked about it last night,” Williams said. “All it is is rumors and sources. Sources are not credible to me. Until you put a name to a source, it’s not credible. “I’d be really surprised if Lopez doesn’t make (the All-Star reserves, which will be announced tomorrow). I don’t know how you could leave Brook off. What he’s meant to this team on both sides of the floor. He’s been the most consistent throughout this season. I think he’s an All-Star. …I think in general he just came in with a chip on his shoulders, being in thrown around in trade rumors for the last two years and being hurt last year and people doubting him, so I think he definitely came in ready to go this year and really confident. Hopefully people are taking notice.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

According to multiple team sources, the Nets have not engaged in trade talks for Howard and remain skeptical the Lakers will deal their center by next month’s deadline. They’ve also talked privately with Lopez about the circumstances, reassuring him that he’s not involved in any trade proposals after he signed a four-year, $61 million deal. New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez 

A return of the Dwightmare? Don’t count on it. League sources shot down a report Tuesday the Nets were interested in once again pursuing Lakers center Dwight Howard, after spending all of last season trying to acquire him while he was with the Magic. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez 

Peter Vecsey: According to those w need 2 know such things, Nets & Wolves never discussed any such deal. Love going nowhere. BK lost interest in DH Twitter @PeterVecsey1

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Brook Lopez 

King, according to sources, was confident that he had a trade proposal that was a perfect fit for all teams involved. According to sources, King was planning to contact the Minnesota Timberwolves in order to gauge their interest in a three-team trade that would send Kevin Love to the Lakers, Brook Lopez to the Timberwolves and Dwight Howard to the Nets. Other small pieces would need to be included, but the proposed trade was thought to be intriguing enough to start conversations in the Lakers front office that would force them to deal with Howard earlier than planned. That idea, however, was hurt when Love was sidelined 8-10 weeks with a broken hand. RealGM

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez 

Then, on a Friday night in Brooklyn, he beat the Pistons and the double-overtime buzzer with a game-winner. Three weeks later, another Friday night in Washington, D.C., he beat the Wizards and the buzzer, again. Confidence is a funny thing: When it goes, it’s gone. But when it grows … “There’s nobody you’d rather see with the ball in the end,” Brook Lopez says. “He wants it, every time,” Deron Williams says. “Yes,” Joe Johnson says. “I want to take that shot.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

“He’s playing as well as any center in the league,” Carlesimo said when asked about Lopez’s play. “I don’t know another center that is playing better than him. There are a couple others that are playing really well, too, but I don’t think there is any center that is playing better than him. He’s done a heck of a job.” SNY Nets

Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez 

When asked whether or not he himself agreed with his coach, Lopez was honest. “I definitely feel that I’m at the top,” he said. “I don’t really watch many other teams so I have to take it by when I play them and what I see when I see them, and I definitely think I’m at the top.” SNY Nets

Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez 

This weekend, Brooklyn Nets fans will learn to say "defense" in Russian. On Jan. 13, the Nets will host An Evening of Russian Culture during a game against the Indiana Pacers, which coincides with Old Russian New Year's Eve. Famed Russian concert violinist Alexander Markov will perform the national anthem before the game and again at halftime. Russian entertainer Oleg Kolomyets is slated to introduce the starting players, and Russian music will also be incorporated throughout the game. Nets players Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez will appear in a video in which they sample fare from Manhattan restaurant The Russian Samovar. Crain's

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Russia, Brook Lopez 

“I just think he’s confident,” Deron Williams said of Lopez. “He’s not looking over his shoulder every five minutes thinking he’s going to get traded, which definitely will help as far as his focus and him mentally being ready to play. I think he’s just being so aggressive on both ends and that’s something that we love to see.” SNY Nets

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez 

Fred Kerber: #BrooklynNets BLopez on #Kings DeMarcus Cousins: "He’s such a talented big. There’s not really anything he can’t do offensively." Twitter @FredKerber

Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins, Brook Lopez 

Marc J. Spears: PLAYERS WHO CAN'T BE TRADED UNTIL 1/15/13 CONT.: B Lopez; J McGee; Novak; Rush; Speights; J Thompson. Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Brook Lopez 

The Nets announced at this morning that Brook Lopez, who has missed seven straight games with a mild sprain of the right foot, has been upgraded to "probable" for tonight's game against the Pistons (Buy Tickets). "(Brook) had a pretty good session yesterday," said coach Avery Johnson. "He played a lot of 3-on-3, did a lot of running and he seemed to recover okay. So he's just 'probable.' He got through shoot around. We're going to go in and treat him, get him home, get him some rest and then tonight we'll all sit down and make a decision." NBA.com

Brooklyn Nets, Injuries, Brook Lopez