After nearly five months away, one of the things that bothered him most about basketball made him smile after the game. And that, more than any of his contributions on the floor, explains the 33-year-old’s return to action after a Dec. 2 back surgery to repair a bulging disc. “I’ve been through injuries a few times and so it’s always just made me appreciate basketball, love it even more,” Lopez said. “I try never to take my time on the court for granted, whether it’s practice. shootaround or a game. And so that’s why I just try to be out there, whenever I’m out there, playing with energy, being enthusiastic, and above all, having fun, having a good time. And with the group we have, that’s easy. But yeah, I’m just so happy and blessed to be back out there. There’s not much else I want in the world than that.”