Barclays Center was host for the Brooklyn Nets’ 97-77 victory over the Orlando Magic Monday night, but also host to Brook Lopez Appreciation Night, a fan-driven event where some of the most die-hard Nets fans came out to show support for Brook Lopez after Lopez was snubbed from the All-Star game by coach’s vote.
With Lopez at the line, fans routinely chanted “ALL-STAR” in multiple cadences, held up signs and Lopez fatheads to show support, and led fans unaware of the night in cheers.
I asked Lopez if he heard and saw the fans chanting for him. He smiled. “I did. I’m just thankful we have support out here like that. We have great fans, and they continue to support us night in and night out.”
As for his candidacy, Lopez was coy. “I’m not really thinking about it. I was busy getting ready for this game, and we have Miami coming in in two days. So that’s the main thing right now.”
Later on, I saw a tweet posted by Nets fan Zac Cullen, tonight’s fan with the Fathead (an enormous poster of Brook Lopez’s head):
@netsdaily @tomlorenzo That was me!!! twitter.com/ZCullen8/statu…
— Zac Cullen (@ZCullen8) January 29, 2013
As Lopez left the locker room, I showed him the photo. He looked at it, laughed, and said simply: “that’s one ugly mug.”
