Brooklyn Nets center De'Ron Sharp will miss the remainder of the season with a thumb injury that will require surgery, the team announced Thursday.
"Deron Sharp has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. Sharp will require surgery to repair the ligament and will miss the remainder of the season. Further updates will be provided following the procedure," the Nets said in a statement.
Sharp missed the Nets' big loss against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday due to his injury. The 24-year-old big man continued to solidify himself as one of the league's best backup centers this season after a breakout 2024-25 campaign.
Deron Sharp shut down for the season with thumb injury
Sharp posted career-highs across the board, averaging 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals on 60.1 percent shooting in 18.7 minutes per game. He was one of three players, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, to average 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists per 36 minutes on 55 percent or better shooting.
Sharp's absence should boost Brooklyn's tank amid a tight race in the draft lottery standings. According to CleaningTheGlass, his performance on the court versus off has led the Nets to outscore opponents by seven more points per 100 possessions, the team's highest net rating swing and sixth among 35 centers who played more than 1,100 minutes.
Consecutive wins over the Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies dropped the Nets from second to fourth in the lottery standings. Brooklyn has one more win than the second- and third-place Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards, respectively, and two more than the first-place Pacers.
Sharp has a $6 million team option for next season.
