With the All-Star break in the rearview, the Brooklyn Nets are shifting gears—but not in the way fans hoped. Any chance of Bojan Bogdanovic suiting up again this season? Gone. The team has officially shut him down, ending all speculation about a return. Right now, the Nets are battling the first-seeded Cavaliers, a squad that’s been locked in since day one. And now D’Angelo Russell could be out, too.

Russell, the Nets’ guard, rolled his right ankle while driving to the hoop against the Cavs and immediately felt the pain. He grimaced, slowed down, and made his way over to the Nets’ bench with a noticeable limp. And he won’t be back on the floor tonight after tweaking his ankle. The team officially ruled him out.

Before going down, Russell struggled to get much going. In 18 minutes, he managed just three points and five assists—a rough night even before the injury. Through 45 games this season, D’Angelo Russell has averaged 13.1 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 40.6% from the field and 33.1% from deep. He’s also knocking down free throws at an impressive 86.7% clip.

D’Lo’s situation is about to get interesting. He’s in the final stretch of his two-year, $36 million contract, and with free agency coming up, the big question is where he’ll land next. Brooklyn has given him more freedom, a shift from his Lakers days when he mostly played off LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Now, teams will have to decide if they’re willing to let him run the show like he has under Jordi Fernandez. If Brooklyn sees him as a long-term piece, Fernandez might just fight to keep him around. Can he lead them to the playoffs once again?

Can D’Angelo Russell once again repeat what he did in 2019 with the Nets?

Brooklyn has been through it all—the 2013 super team flop, the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-James Harden disaster—but in between, D’Angelo Russell gave fans something to believe in. That 2019 squad wasn’t dominant, but man, did they have heart.

Now, six years later, Russell’s back, trying to recapture that same magic. Since his return in late December, he’s averaging 14.5 points and 5.8 assists, playing a huge role in Brooklyn’s resurgence. Under Jordi Fernandez, the Nets have won six of their last 10 and are creeping up on the play-in race, hoping to take the last spot.

They may not be dancing on the sidelines while Russell hits his signature “ice in my veins” pose, but that combative mentality? It’s still there. Injuries, trades—nothing has shaken their fight. Fernandez has them locked in on defense, ball movement, and high-energy basketball.

And just in time, help has arrived

Cam Thomas and Noah Clowney, two key young pieces, have returned after the All-Star break. They’ve missed most of this hot streak, but their presence could be the extra push Brooklyn needs.

With Russell’s leadership, Fernandez’s coaching, and Thomas and Clowney back in action, this team has a chance to channel that 2019 energy. An unlikely playoff run? Wouldn’t be the first time.