DARIQ WHITEHEAD NEWS

Undergoes successful surgery Whitehead underwent successful season-ending surgery on his left shin stress reaction Monday and is expected to need three months to recover, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.

Impact As expected, Whitehead will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season due to the injury, but despite a third surgery in two years, the rookie is expected to be a full participant during the Nets' offseason development program this summer. The Duke product was one of the top high school prospects in 2022 but underwent a procedure on his right foot before his freshman season and needed another surgery following the campaign because the injury didn't heal properly. Injury concerns didn't prevent Brooklyn from using the 22nd overall pick in 2023 to draft Whitehead, and the 19-year-old could still have a bright future if he's able to stay on the court consistently.

JANUARY 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out for rest of season Coach Jacque Vaughn said Saturday that Whitehead (lower leg) will undergo season-ending surgery, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Impact Whitehead will have to undergo season-ending surgery to deal with a stress reaction in his left shin. The rookie forward made just two appearances for the Nets in 2023-24. Whitehead will look to enter the 2024-25 campaign healthy.

JANUARY 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Nets' Dariq Whitehead working through timeline to return from shin injury Nets rookie Dariq Whitehead was diagnosed with a left shin stress reaction last week and will return to action following a full recovery.

JANUARY 25, 2024 • USATODAY.COM

Suffers stress reaction Whitehead has been diagnosed with a left shin stress reaction, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.

Impact The Nets haven't released a timetable yet and treatment options are being evaluated, but it's likely that Whitehead will miss multiple weeks. The rookie has made just two appearances for the Nets this season with a total of 24 minutes played, so his absence is unlikely to impact the rotation.

JANUARY 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Wednesday Whitehead (foot) won't play in Wednesday's game versus the Trail Blazers.

Impact Whitehead's absence won't affect Brooklyn's rotation. The rookie forward's next chance to suit up is Friday's matchup with the Lakers.

JANUARY 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not available Monday Whitehead is listed as out for Monday's game against the Heat for right foot injury maintenance.

Impact Whitehead hadn't played in a game at the G League level since last Wednesday prior to his call-up to Brooklyn earlier Monday, so his lack of availability comes as somewhat of a surprise. The Nets have eased the rookie first-round pick along slowly this season after he underwent surgery on his right foot in June, as he's regularly taken games off during particularly busy portions of the G League schedule.

JANUARY 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from G League Brooklyn recalled Whitehead (undisclosed) from the Long Island Nets of the G league on Monday.

Impact Whitehead didn't play in Saturday's 116-93 loss to Stockton for undisclosed reasons, and it remains to be seen if he'll be available for Brooklyn's game against Miami on Monday. If he is cleared to suit up, it will likely be in a limited capacity.

JANUARY 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to G League The Nets assigned Whitehead to the Long Island Nets of the G league on Thursday, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Impact Whitehead played 21 minutes in Wednesday's loss to Milwaukee. However, with most of Brooklyn's regulars back from injury, the rookie forward will continue to develop in the G League.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

With NBA club Wednesday Whitehead is available for Wednesday's game against the Bucks, NBA freelance journalist Billy Reinhardt reports.

Impact The Nets are resting Nic Claxton (ankle), Cameron Johnson (knee) and Spencer Dinwiddie (not injury related) on Wednesday, while Lonnie Walker (hamstring) and Ben Simmons (back) remain out, so Whitehead, Armoni Brooks and Keon Johnson will all be available versus Milwaukee and could crack the rotation. Whitehead has made just one NBA appearance this season, recording one point and one block in three minutes during a blowout win over Miami on Nov. 25.

DECEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Saturday Whitehead has been ruled out for Saturday's matchup against the Magic due to right foot injury maintenance, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.

Impact Whitehead's NBA debut was delayed while rehabbing from offseason foot surgery. He's been cleared to play in games, but the Nets will continue to be cautious with the rookie, meaning periodic maintenance days could be a regular thing throughout the campaign.

DECEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Makes NBA debut Saturday Whitehead contributed one point (1-2 FT) and one block across three minutes during Saturday's 112-97 victory over the Heat.

Impact After being recalled from the G League's Long Island Nets prior to Saturday, Whitehead made his NBA debut. He saw his limited run in garbage time and doesn't look like he'll be a regular contributor to the rotation anytime soon.

NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returning to G League The Nets assigned Whitehead to the Long Island Nets of the G League on Wednesday.

Impact Whitehead will join Noah Clowney in heading to the Long Island Nets. Neither rookie has made an NBA appearance this season, so they should continue to see increased opportunities in the G League.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from G League The Nets recalled Whitehead from Long Island on Tuesday, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Impact Whitehead played 21 minutes for Long Island on Monday against the Swarm, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. It remains to be seen if he'll get a chance with the Nets in Tuesday's game against Orlando.

NOVEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Headed back to Long Island The Nets assigned Whitehead (foot) to the Long Island Nets of the G league on Thursday.

Impact Whitehead has yet to make an appearance for the Nets this season while dealing with a foot injury. However, he has returned to practice and could see extended minutes with the Nets' G League affiliate.

NOVEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Brooklyn Whitehead (foot) was recalled from the G League's Long Island Nets on Wednesday, freelance NBA journalist Billy Reinhardt reports.

Impact Whitehead had already been ruled out for Brooklyn's game against the Clippers on Wednesday, and it seems likely that he'll remain out despite being recalled. However, he progressed to 5-on-5 work in practice last week and could be nearing a return from his foot injury.

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Friday Whitehead (foot) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Mavericks.

Impact Whitehead continues to recover from foot surgery and will be unavailable for a second consecutive game to begin the regular season. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to make his NBA debut, but he had been able to take part in 2-on-2 drills with Nets coaches as recently as Sunday, according to Evan Barnes of Newsday.

OCTOBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't suit up against Cleveland Whitehead (foot) is out for Wednesday's game versus the Cavaliers.

Impact Whitehead will continue to miss time while recovering from offseason foot surgery. The rookie forward's next chance to suit up is Friday's matchup with Dallas, but there is no timetable for his return.

OCTOBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Progresses to 2-on-2 Coach Jacque Vaughn said Sunday that Whitehead (foot) has progressed to playing 2-on-2 with coaches, Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.

Impact Whitehead didn't make any appearances during preseason action while rehabbing from offseason foot surgery. When healthy, the rookie will presumably get some work in the G League before he's given a chance with the NBA club.

OCTOBER 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Absent from preseason win Whitehead (foot) didn't play in Wednesday's preseason win over Miami.

Impact Whitehead spent the preseason continuing his recovery from offseason foot surgery and was unavailable for Wednesday's preseason finale. Whether he'll be available for the regular-season opener against Cleveland on Oct. 25 remains to be seen.

OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Whitehead (foot) won't play in Monday's exhibition against Philadelphia, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports.

Impact Whitehead has yet to play during the preseason while working his way back from offseason foot surgery. He'll have one more chance to suit up during Wednesday's preseason finale in Miami before the 2023-24 regular season gets underway.

OCTOBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Unavailable Thursday Whitehead (foot) has been ruled out for Thursday's exhibition game against Israeli club Maccabi Ra'anana, Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.

Impact Whitehead continues to work his way back from offseason foot surgery, and he'll be unavailable once again Thursday. It's not yet clear whether he'll see any playing time during the preseason, but his next chance to suit up will be Monday against Philadelphia.

OCTOBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Doing well in recovery Whitehead said Sunday that his rehab from June 7 right foot surgery is "going great," though he wasn't willing to offer a timeline for his return to full basketball activities, Bri...

Impact Though Whitehead was slowed by foot issues throughout his freshman season at Duke in 2022-23 and eventually required surgery in June -- a revision of a previous operation for a fifth metatarsal Jones fracture -- his checkered health record didn't deter the Nets from selecting him with the No. 22 overall pick in the draft. The 19-year-old wing was a heralded recruit coming out of high school and was touted by many analysts as a likely top-five selection in the 2023 draft heading into his lone season of college, so the Nets were willing to take a gamble on Whitehead's upside in spite of his lingering foot concerns. Shortly after Whitehead was drafted, the Nets relayed that they expect the rookie first-round pick to be fully cleared for training camp, and his own optimism about his recovery from surgery suggests that a return for camp remains realistic.

AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nets' Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead react to NBA 2K24 ratings Clowney and Whitehead this week learned their initial ratings in NBA 2K24, which fell a bit short of their expectations.

AUGUST 22, 2023 • USATODAY.COM