The Brooklyn Nets will enter the 2024-25 NBA season with a lot of young talent, but make no mistake, the team has players who can compete amongst the best. Many eyes will be on Cam Thomas, but rising sixth-year center Nicolas Claxton is bracing for a breakout as well. Head coach Jordi Fernandez looks to help Claxton maximize his potential in his first year leading the Nets.
Claxton joined the Nets in 2019 as the team's 31st pick in the second round of that year's draft. His high defensive potential and versatile rim-attacking ability enticed Brooklyn. Claxton did not see much action during his rookie year due to playing behind DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen. However, with time, Claxton saw massive improvements on both sides of the ball. He is expected to take another leap in 2024-25, and Jordi Ferndenz revealed lofty expectations for the center:
"Nic should be right there for Defensive Player of The Year... [Offensively], his playmaking should go up. We'll play through him with dribble handoffs, catches at the elbow. He's pretty good at playmaking for others, same with putting pressure on the rim. And that's not just for him to finish, but also to open up the three-point line," Fernandez said at a Nets press conference on Sep. 26, per Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.
Nic Claxton has the ultimate opportunity in 2024-25
With the Nets entering a full rebuild, Claxton should be able to fufill Fernandez's request and take his game to the next level. He had an impressive showing during the 2022-23 season, averaging a career-high 12.6 points, 2.5 blocks, and 9.2 rebounds. He followed the year up by averaging 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.
Claxton gained consideration for an All-Defensive spot for his efforts during the 2022-23 season but missed out due to other stout defenders like Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez. Claxton stayed strong in 2024-25, but his block numbers went down slightly. Nevertheless, Fernandez believes Claxton should be able to continue his profound defensive impact and chase the Defensive Player of the Year award.
In addition, Fernandez gave glimpses of Claxton playing a larger role in Brooklyn's playmaking. Claxton averaged a career-high 2.1 assists in 2023-24, and that number could increase during the upcoming season.
Claxton has proved his value to the Nets on both sides of the ball, and if he continues to work hard, the sky is the limit.