On Monday afternoon, 2K dropped a round of roster ratings for the top 71-100 players ahead of NBA 2K25's release. The ratings drop included players ranging from Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jalen McDaniels to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso. However, Brooklyn Nets fans will be most alarmed by starting center Nic Claxton's rating.
Nic Claxton is coming off another strong year with the Nets. He averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game through 71 games in 2023-24. Claxton is just one year removed from being a dark-horse Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Yet, 2K decided to keep the talented center humble by giving him a starting rating of 81, as shown by their post on X (formerly Twitter):
🗣️ The #NBA2KTop100 starts NOW!
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 19, 2024
Drop your takes on this first group of #NBA2K25 ratings ✍️ pic.twitter.com/0sIWbLXdHt
Claxton's rating is a bit surprising considering his final overall in NBA 2K24 was an 83. However, starting at 81 in 2K25 is understandable given that his 2023-24 stats were a slight drop from 2022-23. Claxton averaged a career-high 12.6 points, 2.5 blocks (ranked third in the NBA), and grabbed 9.2 boards per contest before his slight drop.
The rising sixth-year center has the opportunity to build off his improvement and up his rating by the end of the 2024-25 season.
Can Nic Claxton make another big jump with the Nets?
Claxton is one of the most coveted young centers in the league, especially on the defensive end. He has ranked top 10 in the NBA in stocks (steals plus blocks) over the past two seasons. Furthermore, his ability to guard multiple positions makes him highly valuable. Claxton nearly secured a spot on one of the NBA's All-Defensive teams during the 2022-23 season, but the elite competition saw him get left out.
Claxton's growth earned him a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Nets in July. Whether that contract makes him underpaid or overpaid is up for debate. But the fact remains that Claxton is a key piece for Brooklyn, and he has not even reached his potential yet.
If Claxton can stay healthy and continue to play hard on both ends of the floor, he could receive increased recognition in 2024-25 and beyond. His contributions will be vital to a Nets team looking to reestablish competitiveness in the Eastern Conference.
Be sure to stay tuned for a full look at the Nets' NBA 2K25 roster ratings as the game approaches its release on Sep. 6.