PHILADELPHIA–When one looked at the schedule and they saw the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets on the calendar for Jan. 25, the focus was expected to be on the rivalry between Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Or even on James Harden facing his former team.
Nobody saw the rivalry being between young Nets big man Nic Claxton and Philadelphia veteran Montrezl Harrell.
At shootaround on Wednesday morning, Harrell was asked about the play of Claxton since the injury to Nets star Kevin Durant. The confident Sixers’ big man answered with the focus being on Kyrie Irving.
“I don’t know nothing about that, brother,” said Harrell. “We’re talking about a guy who steps up, but at the same time, Kyrie Irving. Same as if Kevin Durant was there, it’d be him too. At the same time, it’s good that he’s playing well and stuff like that. Cool, but it’s not the focal point of our (defense) or what we’re trying to take away. We know the head of that engine is through Kyrie. and everything that they’ve been doing since KD has been out, it’s been through Kyrie.”
Irving is certainly the head of the snake right now in Brooklyn, but Claxton has been playing well for the Nets since Durant went down. He, like others on the roster, has had to step up.
“So kudos to him (Claxton), but at the same time, brother, that’s not a focal of my lock-in point,” Harrell finished. “I’m just coming out making sure Kyrie isn’t going downhill, making sure he’d not creating for his guys, and making sure he isn’t causing a whole lot of havoc in order to get Claxton open.”
Before the matchup in Philadelphia, Claxton fired back at Harrell for his comments.
Nic Claxton on Montrezl Harrell comments: “I just want to know what he’s doing this year, what his resume is? It definitely adds a little fuel to the fire.” #nets #sixers #76ers
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) January 25, 2023
Claxton is understandably upset with the comments, but Harrell is a proven vet in the league and he has a 6th Man of the Year award on his resume. He has been around the block a bit.
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