Nic Claxton finds himself suddenly as the longest-tenured player on the Nets, noting that such an ascension in seniority “happens fast” in the NBA.
The 25-year-old center expects to play in Wednesday’s season opener in Atlanta after missing the team’s four preseason games due to a hamstring issue — declaring himself “ready to go” to open his sixth NBA campaign.
Claxton, who returned to practice with the team as a full participant Monday in Brooklyn, ticked off a series of established former teammates who helped prepare him to take on more of a leadership role this year for a rebuilding Brooklyn squad.
“I had a lot of really good vets since I’ve been in the league, and I’ve been able to soak up a lot of knowledge from a lot of different players [and] coaches,” Claxton said after practice. “DeAndre Jordan, Blake [Griffin], KD [Kevin Durant], Kyrie [Irving], James [Harden], Caris [LeVert], It’s so many dudes and I’m a sponge. I’m always just listening, and I remember things.
“So just using what I’ve learned from those guys and from all the things that I’ve seen out there on the court, helping others, and also just taking my game to another level.”
The Nets are banking on that, too, after inking Claxton a four-year contract extension worth $100 million in June.
The 6-foot-11 Claxton averaged virtually a double-double last season with 11.8 points and a career-best 9.9 rebounds over 71 games.
“My expectations for the team is just to compete,” Claxton said. “I mean, obviously, we don’t have a whole bunch of extremely high expectations this year, but just come out every night and compete and fight and play the game the right way and let the chips fall where they may.
“And for myself, just continuing to grow as a player, as a leader for the group.”
Claxton thought his return to practice Monday “went well,” and first-year Nets coach Jordi Fernandez noted that it was “good to have a true center on the court, and I think everybody could feel his energy.”
In the absence of Claxton and backup center Day’Ron Sharpe, who also is sidelined with a hamstring injury, Fernandez used a smaller alignment featuring two point guards — Dennis Schroder and 6-10 Ben Simmons — with the latter guarding opposing bigs at the defensive end.
“I think it was good. I think it was good for the group to be put in those situations, because throughout the season, you never know what’s going to happen,” Claxton said. “It was good for [second-year forward] Noah [Clowney] to be able to get some good reps at the five. And now that I’m back we can kind of see how everything looks.”
To that end, Claxton noted “it’s definitely gonna take me a few games” to regain his timing, although Fernandez declined to say whether there will be any minutes restrictions in Wednesday’s game against the Hawks.
“That’s a good question and I’m not answering for obvious reasons because I’m not giving out secrets, but he’s doing very well,” Fernandez said. “We’re very happy with where he’s at physically right now. Health is the No. 1 priority for us and he’s done a really good job.”
Claxton also admitted that his new nine-figure contract feels like “a weight has been lifted” from his shoulders.
“It’s my first time I feel like I’m not worried about the contract, I’m not worrying that I need to stay healthy, I just need to go out here and just have fun playing the game of basketball,” Claxton said. “I just wanna feel like a kid again and just enjoy this with a younger group.
“I’m excited to see what it looks like. It’s a new system, so I’m also going to be learning a lot, but I’m ready.”