NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton has missed the past two games for the Nets due to what the team has described as “personal reasons” keeping him out of the rotation. Brooklyn has seen backup center Day’Ron Sharpe step into Claxton’s role and perform well and the good news is that Claxton will be back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Orlando Magic.
“He’s on his way back, he’s not here [at practice] today, but he’ll get back here at some point today,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Claxton after Tuesday’s practice. Fernandez did not elaborate on the reasons that Claxton was away from the team, but with his return later on Tuesday, it looks like the entire starting lineup will be back together on Wednesday.
“Yeah,” Fernandez said when asked if Claxton will be able to play Wednesday against the Magic. Claxton, 26, is having arguably the best season of his career as he’s averaging 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 58.2% from the field and 67.4% from the free-throw line. In his absence, Sharpe has been playing well to the point that one could wonder what the possibilities could be with both back in the fold.
“Just starting with the summer that he’s had, he did a great job taking care of his body, improving his body,” Fernandez said of Sharpe. “Now that you see more extended minutes, how he’s been able to sustain the efforts and being productive and his playmaking, he’s cut his turnovers, he’s improved his effective field goal percentage, all that growth has been amazing to see.”
With Claxton back in the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Magic, Sharpe will be pushed back to his usual role as the backup center, but that will only add to Brooklyn’s rotation. Claxton will have his hands full against Magic centers in Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze, but Brooklyn should catch somewhat of a break against Orlando with forward Franz Wagner (ankle) being out and the potential of guard Jalen Suggs (knee) missing the game as well.