Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton has made great strides in his game this season. Not only is he averaging 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, but he is also putting up 2.6 blocks per game (first in the NBA) and shooting 73.4% from the field (first). Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn has been one of the main people within the Nets organization singing Claxton’s praises.
“Well, I think overall, just his aggressiveness. I think you see it on both ends of the floor, whether it is put-back dunks, whether that is playing above the rim, whether that is at the element now of catching the half roll and being able to be a passer or finisher,” Vaughn told reporters before Thursday’s 109-98 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Claxton has been huge for the Nets on defense with some recommending him for some DPOY votes. To add more evidence of his impact on defense, Claxton is also ninth in the NBA in defensive win shares (2.0) and in second in individual defensive rating (106.7).
“So the offensive end, that’s probably the most growth we’ve seen from him, and then defensively just being at every spot for us on the defensive end of the floor, I think he’s really taken pride in being a defensive player and the impact that it has on our team on the game, a lot of time of the outcome, really. And so I think he’s really taking some ownership of that, which has been huge.”
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