New role, new bag, new trade

ByNBAUSA


Humbled Nick Claxton spoke to the media in interviews for the release in April following Brooklyn Nets2024-25 campaign. The 26-year-old was coming off his worst season in years, during which he battled a debilitating back injury. Claxton took responsibility for his poor play and said he was looking forward to using the offseason to get healthy.

Six months later, the veteran center is playing some of the best basketball of his career.

Clacton has been a bright spot during the Nets’ listless 2-11 start. The big man looks rejuvenated, emerging as one of the NBA’s most effective offensive centers while carrying the heavy load in Jordi Fernandez’s offense. He averaged a career-high 15.2 points and 3.9 assists per game while posting a true shooting percentage of 64.8, his highest percentage since his freshman season in 2022-23.

“We’ve all seen how he’s worked all summer … He’s got to go 82 (games), but all his work is paying off,” Fernandez said of Claxton’s dramatic improvement. “Right now, he’s doing a good job driving to the rim and being aggressive. He’s also finding his teammates. The challenge is if he can get four-plus assists per game. Those steps are important. And from there we want to defend at a high level. So that’s the biggest challenge for him right now. But overall, I’m very happy with all of his performance on the team, when he’s playing all energy…”

With the Nets lacking a high-level creator, Claxton has taken on a more prominent role offensively.

Is Nick Claxton part of the Nets’ future plans during the prime of his career?

Brooklyn Nets center Nick Claxton (33) drives to the basket around Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first quarter at the Kia Center.
Mike Watters-Imagn Images

The seven-year veteran has excelled amid his career workload, showing significant improvement as a driver. He showed off a variety of crafty moves — simultaneously dribbling handoffs, going over slower centers and slowing down at the rim to create separation.

Claxton is averaging 5.8 shots per 36 minutes, two more than any other season in his career. In those games, he scored a career-high 58.1 percent.

“That was the focus this summer, for sure. I had to add more things to my bag,” he said. “I didn’t really start working on it last summer (due to a back injury). So this summer I just wanted to add some tools to my bag. That (decel) move is what I’ve really been focusing on. So I’m just being persistent, knowing how teams are going to guard me. Teams have been very aggressive, so I’ve been able to get some defensive player. reps over the summer, and my IQ is just starting.”

In addition to improved driving skills, Clacton has regained his touch with breaks, lobs and post-ups. The Georgia product is converting 72 percent of his shots at the rim and 49 percent of his shots from 4-14 feet, which is tied for his career high since becoming a regular in the rotation. He’s also shooting a career-high 71.2 percent from free throws.

Arguably the most impressive aspect of Clacton’s offensive resurgence has been his playmaking efficiency. Brooklyn’s starting center is averaging a career-high 3.9 assists per game. He assists on 20.9 percent of his teammates’ shots during his minutes, the third-highest mark among the 28 centers who play over 25 minutes per game, behind only Nikola Jokic (49.1) and Alperen Sengun (28.1).

These impressive numbers came along with a career low 9.9 turnover percentage. Claxton’s 3.00 assist/turnover ratio ranks third among all centers (minimum 10 minutes per game), behind only Jokic (3.51) and Kristaps Porzingis (3.30).

But while Claxton posted career-best offensive numbers to start the season, his defensive impact was non-existent by the usual standards. He failed to block a shot during his first four games. Brooklyn allowed 522 points during that span, the most in franchise history.

The Nets are trying to implement one of the most aggressive in the NBA defense schemes. Brooklyn’s centers have posted one of the league’s highest points defenses this season. The coverage drew Clacton away from the rim, forcing the team to rely on low rotations to protect the paint, but to no avail.

Clacton became one of the best defenders in the NBA in the 2022-23 season. while playing a heavy-switch scheme, one he admittedly prefers.

“I’m in any scheme. But I like to guard one through five. That’s probably why I get paid. That’s probably why I’m still here,” he said after an Oct. 29 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. “So that’s my most natural thing to do on the basketball court, guarding multiple positions. But I want to be able to dominate whatever scheme my coaches want me to do. That’s what I’m working on.”

Clacton’s defensive rebounding also left a lot to be desired. He’s averaging just 4.5 boards per 36 minutes, the second fewest among the 31 centers who have played over 250 minutes this season. The Nets are last in defensive rebounding percentage by a large margin.

However, Clacton has shown improvement as a rim protector and rebounder of late. He’s averaged 2.1 blocks over his last seven appearances, which ranks sixth in the NBA over that span. The former second-round pick blocked a season-high four shots while Alex Sarr was held to one offensive rebound in Sunday’s 129-106 win over the Washington Wizards.

Claxton had a pregame meeting with Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, who challenged him to do better.

“I’m just getting back to myself,” Claxton said after the win. “I started the season (and) I wasn’t getting a lot of blocks. But the timing is slowly coming back, so I felt good on the defensive side of the ball where they wanted me. Coach Steve challenged me before the game (and) showed me some clips. I know what level I can defend at every night, so I have to do it.”

Claxton’s career-best start will fuel trade speculation heading into the Feb. 5 deadline. While the 26-year-old is young enough to be a part of the next iteration of Brooklyn, he will have the most trade value of the team’s veterans. He is on a declining contract that will see him play under 14 percent of the salary cap in 2026-27 and 2027-28.

Brooklyn has a competent backup center in Day’Ron Sharp and selected Danny Wolf in the first round of June’s draft. If Clacton continues his high-level play, this year’s deadline could offer the underdog a good chance to sell.

Whether the Nets shop their longest-tenured player or retain him as a key part of the rebuild will be among the major storylines of their season.





2025-11-18 19:17:00

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