Nic Claxton delivers another impressive performance with a triple double in the Nets’ victory

Is Nick Claxton the Offensive Hub?

In the Nets’ 119-101 victory over the Pelicans on Saturday night, veteran center Nick Claxton delivered a standout performance with a game-high 10 assists, 11 rebounds, and three blocks. He also contributed 14 points, achieving his second triple-double in the process.

With this accomplishment, Claxton became the first Nets player to log multiple triple-doubles in a season since James Harden and Kevin Durant did so in 2021-22—an era that might feel quite distant to fans now. Notably, he is only the second center in Nets history to record multiple career triple-doubles, joining Shawn Bradley who achieved five between 1995-1997.

The team showcased a season-high 36 assists, just one shy of their best from the previous year. “The ball was really moving, the guys were making shots. It was one of those games that felt good for everybody. We’ve definitely been pretty solid over the last three games,” Claxton reflected. He acknowledged some failures here and there but emphasized there’s a lot to build on moving forward.

Currently, Claxton is tied with Michael Porter Jr. for 81 assists against only 20 turnovers in 497 minutes of play, boasting an impressive 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. However, when he’s played without Porter for 197 minutes, his performance dipped to 22 assists but with 15 turnovers.

Looking ahead, the Nets will wait another two weeks for an update on Cam Thomas, who is recovering from a left hamstring strain. Although MRI scans showed progress and some non-contact on-court activity was approved, further updates will not come for a while.

When Thomas is back, questions arise about how the Nets will fit him into their game plan. It’s unclear how they’ll encourage him to adapt his ISO-heavy style to fit a more team-oriented approach. “That’s a good question,” replied Jordi Fernandes. “His superpower is his scoring ability, but we aim for efficiency in playmaking and defensive improvement. While the team has performed well in his absence, his return will require careful integration.”

He’s unique and skilled, yet the group has continued to take steps forward collectively. Regardless, if Thomas returns, Fernandes feels it’s essential to focus on team dynamics to ensure both personal and collective success.

Additonally, Nolan Traore scored 30 points and dished out six assists on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range for Long Island on Friday. Despite averaging 18.1 points and 5.4 assists in the G League, he also deals with 4.1 turnovers—a little rough around the edges—while showcasing shooting splits of .460/.393/.760.