Nets Nic Claxton knows he must cut down on…
Nic Claxton needs to be main the league in blocks, or Defensive Rating, or one thing like that.
Not in flagrant foul factors.
The Nets paid Claxton to be the anchor of their protection, and the previous month is a reminder that he has that sort of expertise.
Nic Claxton, who didn’t play attributable to a suspension within the Nets’ loss to the Thunder on Feb. 26, 2025, blocks Justin Champagne’s shot during Brooklyn’s loss to the Wizards on Monday. AP
But in Wednesday’s 129-121 loss to the Thunder — the best staff within the Western Conference — there he was in avenue garments and serving a suspension for the sort of silliness Brooklyn merely can’t afford.
And Claxton knows it.
“We’ve had those conversations, private conversations. He held himself accountable and to a really high standard,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández mentioned of his speak with Claxton. “We’re going to miss him [Wednesday] night, and that’s what’s most important. We’re missing one of our players and we need him. So he already knew. It’s not that this was not new for him.”
Which is strictly the rub.
Claxton — who simply bought a four-year, $97 million contract over the summer time — has been praised by Fernández as a potential Defensive Player of the Year.
And it’s his play on that finish these days that sparked Brooklyn to successful seven of their final 10 getting into Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Thunder. But these flagrant fouls aren’t new.
Just worrying.
Nic Claxton defends Bilal Coulibaly during the Nets’ loss to the Wizards on Feb. 24, 2025.
USA TODAY Sports through Reuters Con
Claxton has accrued an unacceptable six flagrant factors this season, the newest coming on his Flagrant 1 Foul for pushing Justin Champagnie within the back with 9:24 left in Monday’s 107-99 loss at Washington.
“We lost our composure, and we were not good with whatever happened with a flagrant and a technical and all that stuff and a foul before the ball gets inbounded,” Fernández mentioned. “All those things are a lack of focus, and that’s not the team we want to be.”
And whereas the play wasn’t soiled or malicious, it was clear. And avoidable. Even the opposite Nets needed to concede that was a Flagrant 1.
“As a teammate, no; but looking at the rule books, it’s kind of obvious,” Keon Johnson mentioned. “But that’s just part of learning and growing with the game. So after this one … we’ll get him back and we’ll just continue to learn and grow together.”
Claxton must grow from this.
Nic Claxton drives on Tristan Vukcevic during the Nets’ loss to the Wizards on Feb. 24, 2025. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
His whole is tied Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart for essentially the most flagrant factors within the league. Even one other Flagrant 1 would earn Claxton a one-game suspension, whereas exceeding seven flagrant factors would web him a two-game ban.
After choosing up a whole of 21 technicals within the prior two seasons, Claxton’s infractions have gotten worse. And so have the results.
The middle was ejected and fined $25,000 in December for heaving the ball into the stands in a 101-94 win over Toronto.
“I just had a mental lapse, and I just launched the ball in the crowd,” Claxton admitted on the time. “And I can’t let my emotions get to that point. I got to be there for my team.”
But he wasn’t there for his staff Wednesday.
Flagrant fouls on Oct. 23 in opposition to Atlanta, Dec. 1 vs. Orlando, and Jan. 27 in opposition to Sacramento left him no room for error.
And then on Monday got here that error.
“I don’t think it should have been a flagrant foul, personally,” mentioned Day’Ron Sharpe, who was left as Brooklyn’s solely huge man on Wednesday. “The only reason [Champagnie] couldn’t land is because the other guy pushed [Cam Johnson] down. … He couldn’t land because CJ got pushed down. That’s probably the only reason they called a flagrant. But I don’t think it was flagrant. I do it all the time.”
That leaves him with 5 technicals, 4 flagrants and three ejections this season. And even when one means that Monday’s foul didn’t warrant a flagrant, it broaches the query of whether or not Claxton is incomes a status with the referees.
“Obviously we’re going to miss him and we’re going to miss his size as the anchor of our defense,” Fernández mentioned.
“We realized after the Washington game that he probably gets suspended,” Sharpe mentioned. “It’s a big loss for us. Nic brings a lot for us: his energy, paint defense, perimeter defense, lob threat, passing, playmaking.”
Cam Thomas, cleared for apply final week, is everyday. D’Angelo Russell (proper ankle) and Noah Clowney (left ankle) will each miss the subsequent two video games, however needs to be training subsequent week and will probably return to play, as effectively.
“They both are doing great,” Fernández mentioned. “We’ll probably talk about having them on the court at some point next week. They’re progressing well, they’re around the group and they’ve been [helpful]. They’re great energy when we have them around. We need their presence. It’s good, because it seems like if everything goes well next week we’ll see where they’re at, and just try to keep working on that and have them get some contact and have them back on the court.”
Stay up to date with the newest trending topics! Visit our web site each day for the freshest Sports information and content material, fastidiously curated to keep you knowledgeable.
