Make no mistake about it, Brooklyn Nets breakout big man Nic Claxton is much more than just a defensive ace.
In the Nets’ upset win over the Denver Nuggets on March 12, he showed some of it, sinking a pull-up jump shot off the dribble and cashed it in – which “1000%” surprised teammate Spencer Dinwiddie – en route to the first 20-point, five-rebound performance, five-assist of his career.
“I used to do that in college,” Claxton told reporters during his media session on the following the game. People can be surprised [but] I can do more than what I do now offensively. I’m just playing my role. Hopefully, in years to come, I’ll continue to expand my game.”
Claxton has already emerged as a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
But if this showing which included knocking down all four of his free throws is any indication, stardom could be in his future.
It’s all going Clax’s way today 🤷♂️
— Brooklyn Nets ()
“Now, that was the most surprising play of the game,” said Dinwiddie – who set a career-high with 16 assists in this contest – during his media availability. “F*** the assists. He did a one-dribble pull-up, and made it!”
Claxton leads the league in field goal percentage this season while ranking second in blocks.
But this is just the seventh 20-point showing of Claxton’s career, per Stathead. Six of those have come this season but none had come since he played alongside Kyrie Irving before this.
The former second-round pick went from averaging 13.0 points before Irving’s trade demand to 10.7 points per game after. However, he actually increased much of his production in other areas going from 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 1.6 assists to 9.7 boards, 2.5 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals.
This performance, though, reminded Claxton of the good ole days from a few weeks ago.
“I was just in a good rhythm,” Claxton said. “They came out and they were trapping every time I was setting the screen – [Nuggets center Nikola] Jokic was going out, blitzing. Kind of gave me that feeling of how things used to be every time teams would trap KAI, KD. …read more
Source:: Heavy.com