After playing for the first time in nearly a year this week, the 21-year-old Brooklyn Nets center … [+]
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You have to be an NBA fan who is very enthusiastic for you to have never heard of Nicolas Claxton.
The Brooklyn Nets ’top overall pick in the second round of the 2019 draft from the University of Georgia, the long, slim, 6-foot-11 athletic center has played just 17 games in his career.
Claxton played mostly for Long Island Nets at the G-League last season, scoring 15 games in 2019-2020 as a big backup before appearing in any games at the Orlando bubble. An injury to his knee and right shoulder has held the 21-year-old out until this week, making his first season Tuesday against Sacramento after nearly a year away from court.
But the Nets are going to need big men who can not only run the floor with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving but also score and inside defense when the playoffs arrive. And while Brooklyn looks set to get a place for the postseason through a trade signing or buy-out from outside the group, Claxton could still play a key role in what the Nets hope is a deep playoff run.
After scoring nine points in nearly 14 minutes against the Kings, he recorded 10 points, three rebounds and four leads in 15 minutes in Thursday’s hit win over Orlando, Brooklyn’s 8th straight.
Nic Claxton will fight for a loose ball in Thursday ‘s win over Orlando. Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images
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“Nic’s energy was fantastic,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said after Thursday’s game. “He hasn’t played for about a year, so playing those last two games and being as upset as he was … He’s someone we believe in and thinks it has a lot of upside. ”
Nash has instructed Claxton to just go out and play while not putting too much pressure on himself, doing the unrelated things and little things on the floor for his teammates.
“All they can do out there is dope,” Claxton said after Thursday’s team shoot.
And players like Durant and Irving have played an active role in South Carolina’s indigenous development, with Irving providing vocal direction, at times confronting Claxton and feeding the ball while they on the court together.
“With the team behind me, that always means a lot,” said Claxton, “especially someone recovering from injuries.”
Durant and Claxton have been working together since at least March last year, when a recurring video of KD surfaced on social media.
“I always protect KD when we pick up a pickup,” Claxton said. “I’m just being around him, working with him, protecting him, he really gives me a mental edge when I go out there and protect other guys. ”
If you believe in the saying that iron sharpens iron, there are very few mainstream players around the world who can help Claxton develop as defensively as Durant can.
“I feel like he’s the best in the world,” said Claxton, “so if I could do a good job halfway through defending him, I can protect anyone.”
In the unlikely event that Brooklyn doesn’t bring in a big one before the playoffs begin, Claxton may need to take a small but crucial role in trying to give the franchise his first NBA title. And while he continues to work out alongside Durant, he may have a better chance of success than he has earned credit for as he tries to become an unsung hero in the prospective Nets title run.