March 5, 2026, 6:56 p.m. ET

The Brooklyn Nets (15-46) are in the middle of yet another rough season for the organization as some of the growing pains of being one of the youngest teams in the league are manifesting themselves in real-time. Despite the fact that the 2025-26 campaign isn’t going the way that Brooklyn hoped, others around the league are recognizing that the Nets still have talent on the roster.

“Very early this season, it became clear that Michael Porter Jr. was much more than a so-called “Jokić merchant” for the Brooklyn Nets,” Andy Bailey wrote for Bleacher Report when discussing why Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. ranked as the 36th-best player on the top-99 list. Porter coming to the Nets was seen as a move that could go either way, but he proved early on that he was serious when he said that he was looking to show more of his game.

“In fact, unlike the effect that leaving Jokić lineups has on a lot of former Denver Nuggets, MPJ is having, without question, the best year of his career, outside the Nuggets’ system,” Bailey continued on Porter. “He’s proving that he’s not just a catch-and-shoot threat. He’s still among the league’s best there, but he’s also capable of creating for himself and others.”

Not only did Porter make the list, but center Nic Claxton also made it on the list as he placed 86th on the list, recognizing the kind of career season he’s having. “Every Nic Claxton season feels like a science experiment, with the Brooklyn Nets attempting to gauge and expand the depth of his arsenal,” Bailey said on Claxton. Porter and Claxton haven’t been able to change the fortunes of the Nets this season despite how well they have played.

Porter, 27, is having by far the best season of his career as he’s averaging 24.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 46.7% from the field and 36.7% from three-point land. Claxton, 26, is having arguably his best season since he came into the league as he’s averaging 12.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 58.7% from the floor and 60.9% from the free-throw line.

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