Nic Claxton is ascending.
Through his first 25 games this season, the 26 year old, 6-11 Brooklyn Nets center, whom the team selected with the 31st overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, is posting career highs across the board, including 13.4 points, 4.4 assists, 9.3 field goal attempts, 4.5 free throw attempts, 3.2 made free throws, and 2.7 offensive rebounds. The longest-tenured Nets player has also notched his first two career triple-doubles, further cementing his rise.
“I just told him we’re getting better and better at reading the defense,” Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. said of the pair’s growing chemistry after a 119-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at home at the Barclays Center on December 6.
“I feel like we’re just learning each other’s game a little more. He’s looking for me out on the floor … I just feel like we’re flowing better and we’re kind of getting used to each other more.”
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has a similar view of Claxton’s and Porter’s improving synergy.
“I think they are building their relationship and you can see it,” said Fernandez after the Nets, who are 7-18 going into tonight’s game in Brooklyn versus the Miami Heat, defeated the Pelicans. “… It is Nick setting a good screen for Mike … or Mike is playing splits or a rip screen and he cuts to the rim and Nick finds (him). Nick is being aggressive to score, then the defense is up with him, so I like how the relationship is building right now.”
Porter Jr., the Nets’ leading scorer, is putting together an All-Star level season. The former Denver Nuggets player, who won a championship in 2023 with the franchise, is averaging career highs in points (25.6) and assists (3.2). Porter came to the Nets in a July trade with the Nuggets along with a 2032 first round pick in exchange for forward Cam Johnson.
After a horrendous 1-11 start to this season, Brooklyn is a respectable 6-7 since, and have won four of their last six games.
“Number one, our veterans have done a great job of just staying the course,” said Brooklyn assistant coach Steve Hetzel, who stepped up with head coach Jordi Fernandez out with the flu, after Sunday’s 127-82 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. That contest saw a franchise record-tying nine players in double figures.
“They’ve always bought into what we’ve been doing, and they’ve been patient with the process of allowing these younger players to grow, and through their leadership and Jordi’s leadership, the ship never sank.”
The Nets explosive (21.4) starting shooting guard Cam Thomas, who has been out since he suffered a left hamstring injury in early November, will be reevaluated in the next week and should be able to make a return soon. It may be best for Fernandez to bring the ball-dominant, high-volume shooting Thomas off the bench, so as not to upset the chemistry that continues to develop with the current starting lineup.
After Miami on Thursday, Brooklyn will host the Toronto Raptors on Saturday before heading to Philadelphia to battle the 76ers next Tuesday.