Inside The Nets

Luka Doncic credits Nets star Nic Claxton's defensive prowess

Nic Claxton continues to draw plaudits for his defense.
Peter Sunjic|
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Brooklyn Nets

Nets star Nic Claxton is well-liked by fans in Brooklyn but does not get the plaudits he deserves from the rest of the NBA world. Thankfully, the NBA stars who play against Clax respect what the big man does, especially on defense.

One of those players is Mavericks superstar and MVP candidate Luka Doncic. The Slovenian playmaker recently gave Nic his well-deserved flowers, especially his defensive activity.

“You have some great, great defensive players, you know, like yesterday (against Brooklyn), I have to give credit to Claxton,” Luka said on JJ Redick’s Old Man and the Three podcast. 

“He's a 5, and he was picking me up full court, he was really guarding me good.”

Nic is an elite defender

Most of the league knows Claxton is an excellent shot-blocker. He thrives in coming from the weak side and swatting away layups, floaters, and even dunk attempts. He can protect the rim with his skill set since he can bother shots with his lengthy limbs and intimidating presence.

The former Georgia Bulldog averages 2.3 blocks per game and multiple changed shots with his rim protection. However, Claxton should get praise for his overall defensive game. Nic is also one of the best switch defense big men in the league, as he can keep up with smaller guards and wings on the perimeter due to his quick feet and defensive talent.

Luka brought Claxton up because he had a tough time scoring on the Nets center. Doncic saying that as one of the league’s best offensive players shows that Nic deserves to be named one of the best defenders in the league.

Nic can become a future Defensive Player of the Year

Continuing in this trajectory can lead to great things for Claxton. He was already a candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award in the 2022/23 season, but that campaign got derailed when the Nets started to dip after Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving's exits.

However, the 24-year-old still has plenty of room to improve. Nic is already one of the league’s best defenders, but further improving on that will lead to great things for Claxton.

Thankfully, the Nets front office plans on keeping the former Bulldog on a long-term deal since they plan on being aggressive in free agency. With his defensive impact and continued offensive growth, it’s hard to pass up on naming Claxton the long-term center for the franchise. 

Former Net Spencer Dinwiddie signs with Lakers upon being waived after Brooklyn exit

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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