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Steve Nash said a few weeks ago that he expects Nic Claxton to come back around the end of February … and it’s officially the end of February.
For the first time this year, the Nets injury report lists the 21-year-old as “questionable” and not “absent.” Claxton, who had shoulder surgery and missed the “bubble”, was diagnosed with right knee tendinopathy at the start of training camp in early December. It’s hard to imagine the sophomore would get any minutes against the Clippers even if he had upgraded to “available” on Sunday.
The Nets injury report came out after Steve Nash spoke with reporters earlier today. So there are no details on the status change … or when the almost seven-footer would actually have playing time … or if he could be sent into the G League ‘bubble’ for format it. He hasn’t played an NBA game since February 28.
Claxton has been working with the Nets’ coaches and the team’s bench players – aka “the team stay ready” – in recent weeks. On February 8, he told reporters he was patient.
“It’s really hard to be injured at the moment with the talent that we’ve brought in and of course I’m really ready to be there and help the team but I just have to stay patient,” he said. Claxton said. “It’s something that I learned. I had my surgery and had breakouts with my tendonitis, but I’m just trying to stay patient.
In 15 NBA games last season, Claxton averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 rebounds, but showed flashes in two games in mid-January when he tallied 14 points against the Bucks and 15 against the 76ers, both losses.
Here are some highlights from his game against Philly …
After missing games with a hamstring injury, the Nets sent him to Long Island where he played nine games, averaging 16.7 points. 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks in 21.5 minutes. He also had a line of fire of 66/56/76, showing some distance.
Here are some highlights of his big 34-point, nine-rebound, three-point three-point night just before the pandemic hit …
The Nets are of course in depth at 5 after the trade that brought James Harden to Brooklyn and sent Jarrett Allen to Cleveland. They’ve used DeAndre Jordan in more conventional lineups and Jeff Green and even Bruce Brown in small ball situations. They signed an unsecured deal with veteran Noah Vonleh two weeks ago and have reportedly considered other possibilities. A healthy Claxton would undoubtedly change that calculation.
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