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Nets Importance Rankings: Who are Brooklyn’s top 5 players?

By Jed Katz

Oct 25, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) fights for a loose ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) and guard Ben Simmons (10) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) fights for a loose ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) and guard Ben Simmons (10) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Nic Claxton

Clax, just like Dinwiddie, has only played one of the Nets’ first three games, but his presence can be felt when he’s on the floor. The 24-year-old is the defensive anchor in Brooklyn and had three blocks in his season debut.

Unfortunately, Claxton sprained his ankle on this play, and the timetable for his return is unknown.

When healthy, Claxton is a contender for an NBA All-Defensive team, thanks to his elite rim protection and rebounding skills. In terms of offense, his role is limited, and he typically plays well off of the pick-and-roll. On a roster with few experienced centers, Clax’s strong defense is essential, as he can limit elite NBA bigs.

The Nets ranked 16th last season in defensive rating (113.5), and while that seems pretty average, it would’ve been much worse if Clax wasn’t on the floor. The 24-year-old is already trying to establish himself as a top-tier rim protector in the NBA and attempting to crack 10 rebounds per game for the first time in his career.

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