It was trial by fire for Nic Claxton in the 2022 playoffs against the Boston Celtics, but he has come out of it stronger and has enjoyed a fine 2022-23 season for the Brooklyn Nets. He had played a fairly big role in the Nets turning things around this season, but just when it seemed like everything had settled down, the team got a jolt.
Kyrie Irving requested a trade on Friday, a move that surprised everyone in the organization, including Kevin Durant. Claxton later stated that he won’t try to talk Irving out of his trade request , and just a few days later, Kyrie was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
While Irving seems to have burned a lot of bridges within the Nets because of the way he has acted over the years, not everyone has an issue with him. Claxton, in fact, went as far as to say that Kyrie was one of the best teammates he ever had.
Nic Claxton on Kyrie Irving: “Our relationship always transcended basketball. He was one of the best teammates that I’ve had despite people want to say. Whatever picture (people paint). He’s one of the best teammates and we’ll continue to have a good relationship.” #NetsWorld
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) February 6, 2023
“Nic Claxton on Kyrie Irving: “Our relationship always transcended basketball. He was one of the best teammates that I’ve had despite people want to say. Whatever picture (people paint). He’s one of the best teammates and we’ll continue to have a good relationship.” #NetsWorld”
While the media, executives, and a lot of fans have been put off by Irving’s antics, that isn’t the case for most of the players. There is a lot of admiration for his basketball abilities, and they also seem to like him as a person. As Claxton says here, their relationship transcended basketball, and they will continue to be on good terms.
A New Star Emerging In Brooklyn?
With Kyrie not in the picture for the last two games for the Nets and with Kevin Durant out due to injury, it was a chance for someone else to shine. The man who stepped up was Cam Thomas, as he registered back-to-back 40-point games.
The latest was a 47-point outing against the Los Angeles Clippers, and it meant he joined LeBron James as the two youngest players to score 44 points in consecutive games. Thomas has his flaws, as he has lapses of concentration on defense and can have tunnel vision at times, but he clearly has potential, and Irving’s departure means he could get some more time on the court.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
