Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton has been diagnosed with a lower back strain, and his status will be updated in a week. Claxton is scheduled to receive an epidural injection later on Friday and is currently listed as out, the Nets announced.
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton may return in time for next Friday’s matchup with the 76ers in Philadelphia
Claxton, 25, could return for next Friday’s matchup with the 76ers in Philadelphia. However, it’s possible that his injury might sideline him for longer than a week. He also missed the entire preseason due to a hamstring injury.
Through 11 games (five starts) this season, Claxton is averaging 8.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, a career-high 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 24.8 minutes per contest while shooting 65.1% from the field and a career-low 46.4% at the free throw line.
In Brooklyn’s 144-139 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 29, he recorded season highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench. He finished 8-of-9 (88.9%) shooting from the field.
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton has been diagnosed with a lower back strain. His status will be updated again in one week. Claxton is scheduled to receive an epidural injection later today and is currently listed as out, team says. pic.twitter.com/5RNspAFaGD
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 15, 2024
At 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-2.5-inch wingspan, Claxton has become one of the league’s top shot-swatters. Last season, he finished eighth in blocks (146), eighth in blocks per game (2.1), and fifth in block percentage (6.2%).
The Georgia product finished in the top 10 in all three metrics in each of the past two seasons. Only Brook Lopez (382) posted more blocks than Claxton (335) in that span.
His opponents also shot just 52.3% against him at the rim in 2022-23, sixth best among 100 defenders to contest at least 200 up-close tries and 54.4% in 2023-24, 13th in a 113-defender sample.
Claxton leads all other Nets players with his +5.7 net rating
During the offseason, Claxton agreed to a four-year, $97 million contract to return to the Nets. He’s earning $28.4 million this season and is slated to make $26.13 million in 2025-26.
The deal was signed a day after Brooklyn agreed to send Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in exchange for a haul of draft picks and Bojan Bogdanović.
The Nets (5-7) have played their best basketball with Claxton on the floor this season.
According to Basketball-Reference, his +5.7 net rating ranks first among Brooklyn players. The team has been outscored by eight points per 100 possessions when he’s not on the court.
Brooklyn is expected to turn to Ben Simmons as the team’s starting center. Other options include reserve center Day’Ron Sharpe, who has yet to make his season debut due to a hamstring injury, and Noah Clowney.
