Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton is one of the veterans and leaders on a roster that is among the youngest in the NBA after taking five players in the 2025 NBA Draft. While Claxton is on the team to mentor the younger players and get them up to speed, he also has a job to do in terms of producing on the floor for Brooklyn and he knows that part of his job description has to be better.
“I know I need to be better. I’ve been coasting a little bit and just kind of fighting on myself, fighting with with schemes, fighting with not performing the way I want to,” Claxton said following Wednesday’s 117-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Claxton had arguably his best game of the season as he racked up 18 points, 11 rebounds, and one block (his first of the season) and it was the result of him being engaged from the beginning of the contest.
“So, I just got to just go play free and just let my instincts take over on both sides of the ball, especially the defensive side and the defense,” Claxton continued. “It gets me going. So it’s just me being died and like, like Jordy said, I need to, in order for us to be in games, I need to be the best version of myself.”
Claxton, 26, is having a solid start to the 2025-26 campaign as he is averaging 12.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 53.8% from the field and 62.5% from the free-throw line. Claxton has shown throughout various points of his career how impactful he can be when he is locked in and ready to perform his role, but it’s possible that the rebuilding nature of the franchise is disrupting his concentration at times.
Ultimately, head coach Jordi Fernandez is looking to Claxton, along with guard Cam Thomas and forward Michael Porter Jr., to set the example for the younger players to follow. If Claxton can play like he did against the Hawks, he should not only be able to have more impactful games in the face of defensive pressure, but he should also be able to prove that he is one of the better centers in the league today.