Brooklyn rookie Drake Powell re-injured his ankle after returning to the lineup

Brooklyn Nets newcomer Drake Powell’s bad luck with injuries continued on Sunday. After missing five games with a sprained ankle suffered in the season opener in Brooklyn, the 19-year-old re-entered the lineup against the Philadelphia 76ers. His comeback was short-lived, however, as he re-injured his right ankle four minutes into his second NBA game.

Powell turned the ankle to a non-contact game. He exited the game, and the Nets immediately shut him down.

“I have no idea,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said of the severity of the injury. “It’s bad luck when you step on someone, and ankles are usually soft tissue. We can talk about that, but when you step on someone, you can’t control it. Well, bad luck, I feel for the kid. He’ll be back soon because he’s a worker and he’s great. He started very well with a lot of energy… Unfortunately, it’s part of the game, and he’ll be back soon.”

Drake Powell just turned his right ankle, the same one he injured during the first quarter of Brooklyn’s season.

It was not an abnormal performance. That article doesn’t look very stable. pic.twitter.com/3ToU7Gitt8

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) November 2, 2025

Powell missed most of the offseason with tendinopathy in his left knee. However, he has impressed during his limited NBA opportunities.

Drake Powell re-injured his right ankle after returning to the Nets lineup

The former North Carolina wing provided a spark off the bench Sunday, going coast-to-coast for transition layups and bolstering Brooklyn’s defensive rotations. Powell was among Fernandez’s first replacements, and the head coach was looking for a solution to his team’s terrible defense.

“You bring in Drake, who’s a good defender and he’s going to be a high-level defender, and we’re continuing to develop these (other) guys. Unfortunately, he couldn’t play longer. But that was the thought process: to try to help with the lineups. It just didn’t work,” Fernandez said.

Drake Powell with a strong move and finish on the fast break. His finishing in transition was the best part of his offensive game at North Carolina. pic.tvitter.com/EvGTkNrKskk

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) November 2, 2025

Powell was among the nation’s best defenders while converting 38 percent of his 3-pointers during his lone college season. Many considered him a top athlete in this year’s grade class. However, he was unable to showcase his three-and-D skill set after the draft due to injuries.

With the rookie sidelined by another sprained ankle, Ziaire and Jalen Wilson should continue to see minutes on the wing in Brooklyn’s second unit.