Oh, Brother! Robin Lopez Swats Twin Brother Brook’s Layup Out Of Bounds

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The only player who can stop reigning two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week Brook Lopez? Just a slightly different version of himself, naturally.

Though they’re identical twins, Brook and Robin Lopez are a study in basketball contrasts. The former is a skilled behemoth who’s become one of the most productive interior scorers in all of basketball and leaves much to be desired on the other end. The latter, meanwhile, is a lithe, rangy big man who’s an underrated pick-and-roll thwarter and rim-protector with an understated offensive impact.

But the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers centers share more in common than DNA. Both Lopezes are likely free agents this summer and not only face uncertain futures with their respective clubs, but uncertain values on the open market, too.

Will Brook opt out of his contract? Will teams see the player he’s been the past month or the injury-riddled “star” that’s contributed to Brooklyn’s downfall?

Will Robin’s foot injury affect his worth? Will Portland do all it can to retain him? Does he want to stay with the Blazers?

The Lopezes aren’t national names, but are certainly upper-level players in the NBA – the type that could help spur a rising team to playoff contention or put an established one over the top. Presumptions that beg a bigger question: Would Brook and Robin ever want to play together?

They’d prove an awkward on-court fit, but the Morris Twins set the precedent last summer for taking a discount to play on the same team. We doubt the brothers team up, but doing so would certainly make for an intriguing story, let alone a potentially elite center combination.

Though Robin got the best of Brook on this possession, it’s the surging Nets that lead the Blazers by double-digits late in the third quarter – and the bigger Lopez’s is the reason why. Brook has 26 points and nine rebounds against his other half, continuing his stellar recent play.

[Streamable via James Herbert]

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