Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez underwent successful surgery this morning, January 4, 2014, to repair the fractured fifth metatarsal of his right foot, Nets' General Manager Billy King announced.

The procedure was performed by Dr. James Nunley, Duke University Medical Center's Department Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nets' foot and ankle specialist Dr. Martin O'Malley and team medical director Dr. Riley Williams III. In addition to the fracture repair, a second procedure, a first metatarsal osteotomy, was performed to unload and protect the injured area.

"With this procedure, we both fixed the broken bone (fifth metatarsal) in Brook's right foot and repositioned another bone, so that the sole of his foot will bear weight more evenly than before," said Dr. Williams. "The repositioning portion of the surgery lessens the stress on the fractured bone, and decreases the likelihood of re-injury in the future."

Lopez, who was injured during the December 20th game at Philadelphia, is out for the remainder of the season, but is expected to make a full recovery and will be back on the court for offseason workouts.

At the time of his injury, Lopez was averaging a team-high 20.7 points along with 6.0 rebounds and 1.76 blocks through 17 games played this season.

Dr. Riley Williams III managing the health of athletes and non-athletes at the Hospital for Special Surgery and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn

Dr. Riley Williams III, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon, at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Brooklyn Nets Medical Director and Team Doctor, spoke with What’s The 411Sports’ Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald about a wide range of topics.

Role as Brooklyn Nets Team Doctor

Dr. Williams’ primary goal as Brooklyn Nets Team Doctor and Medical Director is the health and well-being of the Brooklyn Nets players, which involves managing injuries and getting the athletes back into action. Dr. Williams also focuses on preventative strategies such as nutrition, sleep, and mental health around the stress of being a professional basketball player. Dr. Williams’ responsibilities extend beyond Brooklyn Nets athletes, to management and executives.

Dr. Riley Williams III on Why He Chose to Be a Doctor

Dr. Williams explains that he grew up in Los Angeles south of Compton and was looking for a way out of the neighborhood. He had an affinity for the sciences and medicine made sense because he could see a clear path for a career. You do well in college, you go on to medical school. You do well in medical school; you get to do an internship and residency, and ultimately a job.

Dr. Riley Williams III on Helping Brooklyn Nets’ Players Avoid Banned Substances

Dr. Williams explains that the NBA has a very clear and explicit policy on banned substances. If an athlete takes a banned substance, there is no response, the athlete is banned. Dr. Williams reviews the NBA's banned substance list annually and he and his colleagues do their very best to keep Brooklyn Nets players out of harm's way.

Dr. Williams on Managing his Daily Schedule

Dr. Williams explains how he juggles his responsibilities of family, private patients, the Brooklyn Nets and the Red Bulls soccer team.

Dr. Riley Williams III on Yale University's Men's Basketball Team Making NCAA Tourney

Although basketball and sports were not a priority while he was a student a Yale, Dr. Williams is excited that his alma mater made it into the NCAA tournament. He also reminded us that Jeremy Lin went to Harvard and he is still playing in the NBA, so although Harvard and Yale are Ivy League schools, there is still good basketball played at those institutions.

Dr. Riley Williams III on the Outlook for the Brooklyn Nets

Dr. Williams believes that now that the Brooklyn Nets are immersed into Brooklyn, good things are coming. He is also happy to see clarity surrounding the team’s leadership.

Dr. Williams roots for the Brooklyn Nets, follows Nets Daily, and can see that at Brooklyn Nets home games, Brooklyn Nets fans are beginning to outnumber fans of other teams.

Dr. Riley Williams III on Brooklyn Nets' Players Transition to Brooklyn

Dr. Riley says that the mid-season move of the Brooklyn Nets training and practice facility from New Jersey to Brooklyn has slowed the transition of Nets players making Brooklyn their home. More time is needed before the players can totally give up New Jersey. Thaddeus Young is the one Nets player that did move to Brooklyn because he has a family. However, more players will probably move to Brooklyn or to southern Manhattan once the season ends.

In this video, Dr. Riley Williams III, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Brooklyn Nets Medical Director and Team Doctor sees that with the mid-season move of the Brooklyn Nets training and practice facility from New Jersey to Brooklyn, more time is needed before the players give up New Jersey. Thaddeus Young is the one Nets player that did move to Brooklyn because he has a family. However, more players will probably move to Brooklyn or to southern Manhattan once the season ends.

In this video, Dr. Riley Williams III, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Brooklyn Nets Medical Director and Team Doctor believes that now that the Brooklyn Nets are immersed into Brooklyn good things are coming. He is also happy to see clarity surrounding the team’s leadership. Dr. Williams roots for the Brooklyn Nets, follows Nets Daily, and can see there is a transition of fans of other teams coming to Nets games because the tickets were cheaper to those who are Nets fans.

In this video Dr. Riley Williams III, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Brooklyn Nets Medical Director and Team Doctor said that although basketball and sports were not a priority while he was a student a Yale, but he is excited that his alma mater made it into the NCAA tournament. He also reminded us that Jeremy Lin went to Harvard and he is still playing in the NBA, so although Harvard and Yale are Ivy League schools, there is still good basketball played at those institutions.

In this video, Dr. Riley Williams III, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Brooklyn Nets Medical Director and Team Doctor explains how he juggles his responsibilities during the day.

Dr. Riley Williams III, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and Brooklyn Nets Medical Director and Team Doctor, explains that he grew up in Los Angeles south of Compton and was looking for a way out of the neighborhood. He had an affinity for the sciences and medicine made sense because he could see a clear path for a career. You do well in college, you go on to medical school. You do well in medical school; you get to do an internship and residency, and ultimately a job.

Dr. Riley Williams III, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, gives us some insight into his role as the Brooklyn Nets Medical Director and Team Doctor. His primary goal is the health and well-being of the Brooklyn Nets players, which involves managing injuries and getting the athletes back into action. Dr. Williams also focuses on preventative strategies such as nutrition, mental health around the stress of being a professional basketball player; and beyond the athletes, management and executives.