Nick Claxton Looks to Rebound This Season

Nick Claxton came into this season aiming to recover from last year’s struggles with injuries and inconsistent play.

Fortunately for him, he was healthy as the Nets began their campaign, and many viewed the 26-year-old as a potential standout on a team that, let’s face it, didn’t have much buzz surrounding it.

But during the opening four games, Claxton faced challenges once more.

His shooting percentage hovered at 57.1%, with an average of only 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. But what stood out—perhaps in a not-so-great way—was the fact that he recorded zero blocks.

Despite not having swatted any shots early on, it’s important to remember that Claxton was recognized as one of the league’s top defensive players a couple of seasons ago, finishing tied for seventh with an average of 2.1 blocks per game.

However, in Sunday’s win against the struggling Wizards, there were some encouraging signs. He managed to register a season-high of four blocks.

In addition, he matched his season-best with seven assists and seven defensive rebounds, scoring 17 points overall.

Moreover, his free throw shooting appears to have taken a turn for the better.

For someone who’s typically lauded for defensive skills, those blocking numbers carried weight as the team now looks to secure back-to-back wins against the Celtics, who have shown some form recently.

“Just getting back to myself,” Claxton explained, reflecting on his growing effectiveness. “At the start of the season, I couldn’t seem to get a block. But I feel like my timing is on the mend, and now I’m positioned defensively where the team wants me.”

He credited assistant coach Steve Hetzel for challenging him before the game, mentioning how they reviewed some clips that pushed him further.

Claxton was especially effective in limiting Wizards center Alex Sarr to just nine points and three rebounds on poor shooting numbers.

“He’s quite hard on himself and knew he had to step it up,” coach Jordi Fernandez remarked. “That speaks volumes about him. He’s all about doing what’s needed for the team’s success.”

Claxton feels this development could be transformative for his overall game.

“It’s definitely motivating,” he said, making an analogy to the popular video game “NBA 2K.” “Whenever you block a shot, it feels like your takeover meter goes up. It makes you want to be more aggressive on offense, whether that means scoring or getting to the free throw line.”

He is also looking to involve teammate Michael Porter Jr., who noted that Claxton’s performance was commendable on that day.

“I’ve always had a knack for finding easy baskets close to the rim,” Porter shared. “I’ve worked on that here deliberately, and Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe have been great at finding me.”

In other news, rookie guard Ben Saraf, who sprained his ankle while playing for the Long Island affiliate, will be re-evaluated in ten days, as confirmed by the team on Monday. He started the first five games of the season but hasn’t been as active lately.

The team has also recalled fellow rookies Nolan Traore and Danny Wolfe from the Long Island Nets.