NEW YORK — Joe Harris is not walking back through that door.
The Nets’ sharpshooter will undergo a second surgery on the left ankle that has plagued him all season. Nets general manager Sean Marks said on the pregame YES Network broadcast that Harris will miss the remainder of the season, and that he attempted to make a comeback but ultimately the best decision was to undergo a second procedure.
“Although Joe worked diligently over the past few months to rehab his ankle and exhausted every possible avenue in order to get back on the court with his teammates, it has been determined that he will require additional arthroscopic surgery in the coming weeks,” Marks said in a statement. “While it is expected that Joe will make a full recovery following the procedure, it will unfortunately result in him missing the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.
“We know how deeply disappointed Joe is to miss this stretch run, but he remains a huge part of who we are as an organization, and while he won’t be able to contribute on the court his presence and positivity around the team will continue to be felt by all.”
Harris originally severely sprained his ankle in a Nov. 14 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He underwent surgery two weeks later to remove a bone particle from his ankle, and Nets head coach Steve Nash said the procedure was done to put the issue of his ankle in the past.
But Harris suffered a setback during his rehab and sought a second opinion from a doctor in Indianapolis on Jan. 26. Nash never ruled out the possibility of a second procedure, and Harris and the Nets ultimately agreed the reigning 3-point efficiency leader should undergo season-ending surgery on Thursday.
Harris’ season coming to an end makes the Nets’ acquisition of Seth Curry in the James Harden trade even more important.
Curry’s presence lessens the blow that comes with losing Harris, who has led the NBA in 3-point percentage in two of the last four seasons. Harris shot 46.6% from downtown in 14 games this season before spraining his ankle in Oklahoma City. Curry is a career 44% 3-point shooter and is shooting 47% since the trade to Brooklyn.
