Nic Claxton is a defensive star who should’ve been awarded an All-Defensive Team selection last season. Given his talent and age, he’ll likely be in the conversation for many years. He’s a large part of why the Brooklyn Nets are retooling rather than rebuilding. Many franchises would start from scratch following the departures of superstars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. The Nets don’t own many of their picks, which undoubtedly played a role in their decision to remain competitive as a team. However, center Nic Claxton is also a significant reason behind that decision. As a No. 31 overall pick, he’s been a delightful surprise for the Nets, who have found their foundational center.
Top 25 NBA Players Under 25: No. 18 – Nic Claxton
Background
Claxton was an excellent value for the Brooklyn Nets, who picked the Georgia center No. 31 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. Claxton took a significant leap last season, which was his fourth NBA season. His minutes increased from 20.7 to 29.9, and his statistics increased across all categories. Claxton averaged a career-best 12.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 0.9 steals. He did this all on an extremely efficient 71/0/54 shooting splits.
A lot of discussion surrounded the 24-year-old Claxton not making an All-Defensive Team appearance last season despite his elite defensive stats. The 6-foot-11, 215-pound center is already one of the league’s best defenders – he uses his length and agility to be an exceptional modern-day NBA center that can guard multiple positions. Claxton is an elite rim-protector, as evidenced by his 2.5 blocks per game, but his defensive versatility separates his game from the other NBA centers.
He is agile enough to switch in pick-and-roll situations and guard out onto the perimeter when needed. His mobility is an extremely coveted skill set in today’s NBA. Claxton defended the most isolation possessions in the NBA last season and was highly impactful, surrendering just 0.79 points per possession in those situations.
How Claxton Can Become an All-Star
Outside of Claxton’s elite defensive skill set, he’s also an underrated offensive weapon. At 1.9 assists per game, Claxton has a solid vision for a center and is a willing passer. While he isn’t quite yet an elite offensive threat due to his inability to stretch the floor and score often in post-up situations, Claxton still finds a way to contribute offensively. His length, athleticism, and basketball IQ all play massive roles in his contribution on offense.
Claxton is already in conversations for All-Defensive Teams. However, he must improve in these aspects offensively to become an All-Star. If Claxton can become a better floor spacer, even if it’s just his mid-range game, or become a more effective individual scorer, he could potentially be in the conversation for an NBA All-Star.
As is, Claxton is already one of the Net’s best players. He comes in at No. 18 in the top 25 NBA players under age 25 rankings. Claxton has a ton of potential. This potential cann improve his standing in the coming seasons.
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