Nets' Hollins says Teletovic 'could have actually died' if he got on team plane

Brooklyn Nets forward Mirza Teletovic avoided a near tragedy last Thursday thanks to a series of medical tests.

Playing against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, Teletovic experienced shortness of breath and was forced to leave the game. He was then taken to a hospital for examinations, in which a CT scan revealed uncovered blood clots in Teletovic's lungs. 

Teletovic's condition will force him out of commission for the remainder of the season, but had he continued to play, Teletovic's life would have been in jeopardy.

"He could have gotten on the plane and he could have actually died," head coach Lionel Hollins told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.

Fortunately, Teletovic's condition was caught in time and he is now resting in hospital with his wife in Los Angeles.

With Teletovic out of commission, the Nets will have to look elsewhere to replace his 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, in addition to his ability to stretch the floor as a smallball four.