Andrei Kirilenko Received Back Injections that Delayed His Return

Andrei Kirilenko was considered a fantastic signing relative to the amount they were paying him. Eleven games into the season Kirilenko has already missed seven of them due to back spasms. Before, it was unknown as to why it was taking a while for Kirilenko to return, but Stefan Bondy of the NY Daily News cleared up this question when he reported that Kirilenko received an epidural.

“It usually takes 10 days to 2 weeks for recovery following the injection,” Kirilenko said before he was on the inactive list before Wednesday’s game against the Bobcats. “Right now it’s probably at eight or nine days. Otherwise, I’m good. I usually never have that long period of this injury sustained for that long, for about a month. …The last three or four days there were no feelings of pain. It’s just the medicine they injected you have to for.”

Given the Brooklyn Nets lack of quality play recently, Kirilenko's return could give the team the boost it needs in the right direction. However, a there is no timetable for his return, and The Brooklyn Game's Devin Kharpertian reported that Kirilenko "admits that this is unlike any pain he's had before".

Back spasms aren't generally the type of injury that will leave permanently. Even if he feels pain-free during some days, it could flare up again the next day.

Follow @NetsTakeOver