Deron Williams Injury: Brooklyn Nets' Star Point Guard May Survive Season

This is the year the new-look Brooklyn Nets are supposed to finally become contenders in the East. If that is to happen, point guard Deron Williams will need to be healthy and on top of his game.

Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reports that Williams has hopes of playing for the full season despite his ankle injury.

After dealing with tendinitis in his ankle all summer, Williams recently missed two practices. He is expected to return to practice today.

Recently, Williams admitted that the tendinitis is a big problem and that it has been exacerbated by his Olympic efforts. He commented:

"

Just walking down the street it would ache. There were a lot of missed layups because I just didn’t have that explosion...It was hurting really bad in the Olympics, swelled up in the Olympics. So, I had to get on some anti-inflammatory (pills) and we’ve been just trying to strengthen it and get it loose. But it just seems like throughout the course of a game, it never gets loose.

"

This impact on the Nets is another example of why some NBA owners are not pleased with their players playing at the Olympics, but as it stands, there is nothing they can do about it.

For now, Nets fans can be optimistic that Williams will be able to play through the pain and be himself. He has received a cortisone injection in his ankle that has reduced the inflammation temporarily.

Williams will most likely need surgery; the question is, When? He and the Nets organization hope that the surgery can wait until after the 2012-13 season.

Given the playoff-caliber competition in the NBA Atlantic Division this season—the Knicks, the 76ers and the Celtics—the Nets would be loath to have to sit Williams for even a few games. A few games here and there could easily be the difference between a No. 2 seed and a No. 7 seed in the East.

You can bet that Williams understands all of this. NBA players have dealt with worse before, and he appears ready for the season.

Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for the Bleacher Report New York Jets community. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.

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