
Getty Nicolas Claxton
Nicolas Claxton is heading to Brooklyn. The Nets announced they have recalled the 2019 second-round pick from the Long Island Nets, their NBA G League Affiliate. Claxton will suit up for Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Barclays Center.
Claxton made his professional debut during the preseason, averaging 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in three games. In two seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, the South Carolina native averaged 8.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
The move is likely to shore up Brooklyn’s defense, which is allowing 119.5 points per game, second-most in the NBA. The 6-foot-11 forward was a defensive star in college and led the SEC in rebounding his last season at Georgia.
Claxton comes from a great basketball pedigree. His father, Charles, was also a standout for Georgia in the early ’90s. Charles was later selected by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 1994 NBA Draft.
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Kenny Atkinson Gets Creative
Head coach Kenny Atkinson is relying on techniques usually seen on the football field. During endgame situations, Atkinson has been seen holding up cue cards on the sidelines with a visual representation of the play call.
“We’ve had trouble communicating it to the guys in the past, so we came up with this idea,” Atkinson told the New York Post. We have to find a way so everybody knows. Sometimes you have to add a little humor to things. It sinks in a little more with the guys.”
The players have certainly taken notice. After the 123-116 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday at Barclays Center, center Jarrett Allen gave his feedback.
“It’s a ridiculous sign, but it gets our attention gets us to know what we need to do, so it works,” Allen said.
Allen has been one of the few consistent defenders Brooklyn has relied on this season and averaging almost 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
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