Harnessing elite efficiency and three-level scoring, this short-lived tandem dominated the pick-and-roll, leveraging Durant's gravity to transform Claxton into a premier lob threat and rim finisher.
The Brooklyn Nets had one of the most productive pick duos in Kevin Durant and Nicolas Claxton over the last five seasons.
Todd Whitehead compiled a list of every NBA team's most productive pick duo on Saturday. Durant and Claxton finished tied for 26th in points over expectation with San Antonio Spurs duo Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul.
Brooklyn's best pick partners lead the group with 1.19 points per possession, topping Indiana Pacers pair Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner, who trail at 1.18.
Their 1.19 PPP suggests they were an elite duo, but they rank 26th because they played 85 games together. It's a small sample size compared to the rest of the list, who have played together for multiple seasons.
Durant's three-level scoring made this pairing so effective. He could come off a Claxton screen for a pull-up three or take two dribbles into the mid-range and nail the jumper.
His ridiculously high release at 6-foot-11 made it difficult for defenders to contest the jump shot. Switching from a downhill attack to quick stop mid-range pull-ups helped transform Durant's scoring arsenal coming off a torn Achilles in 2019.
He also had his best passing season in Brooklyn. Durant averaged 5.6 assists in 2020-21 and a career-high 6.4 in 2021-22.
The 38-year-old kickstarted Claxton's growth as a screener and roller. Opposing defenses often focused on pressuring Durant, forcing him to pass, but that approach left the Nets' big man wide open as he rolled to the rim.
Claxton recorded 41 dunks in 2020-21 and 88 dunks in 2021-22. There's no stat separating lob dunks from regular dunks, but Durant and James Harden played a significant role in helping the 35th overall pick grow over the years.
Durant and Claxton's partnership was short-lived, as Brooklyn traded the 16-time All-Star to the Phoenix Suns at the 2023 trade deadline. General manager Sean Marks traded his starting center to the Chicago Bulls in a four-team deal to land Julius Randle in June.
The Nets likely won't have a productive duo that reaches the heights Durant and Claxton did. They were one of the most efficient pick-and-roll pairings, and had health been on their side, the team could've won a championship.
Day'Ron Sharpe is the current starting center. He's leaping from the backup role he's played since being drafted, and could build a new partnership with Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Dëmin or Randle.
