The Brooklyn big is on a roll, and has now matched a mark the NBA champion from the Denver Nuggets hit.
Nic Claxton entered a stratosphere Nikola Jokic has occupied.
The big man for the Brooklyn Nets showed his nose for the basketball and floor motor in the 119-101 Saturday romp of the New Orleans Pelicans. He scored 14 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished 10 assists in the 18-point victory at Barclays Center.
So how is the beloved Denver Nuggets star and past league Most Valuable Player involved in this same cloud with Claxton?
ClutchPoints revealed how Claxton is putting up marks unseen before by a natural defender. Claxton and Jokic are the lone centers who have delivered triple doubles this season.
"Seeing a center rack those up is already rare, and the list usually starts and ends with Nikola Jokic," ClutchPoints wrote. "Now Claxton’s right there with him, proving he can impact the game in every way, not just as a defensive monster."
Claxton is elevating to new heights and now hit a category the "Joker" created in the Rocky Mountains. Saturday wasn't just his lone breakout night.
Per Hoops Central, Claxton has hit the following marks in the last four games: 13.3 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per contest, 7.3 assists, plus he's hitting two blocks a night during this span.
Claxton poured his athleticism out in front of the Nets' home crowd -- charging the hoop like a running back exploding through an open hole and crossing the end zone for points. He didn't hesitate to flex for the cameras on his stellar evening.
Saturday's not his only triple-double outing of this season. He produced a 18-12-11 night against the Boston Celtics on Nov. 21 in the 113-105 win.
The 26-year-old has hit double-doubles too -- hitting five this season. He started December by scoring 13 points and hauling down 11 rebounds in leading the 116-103 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
The 6-foot-11, 215-pound center faced a crucial make-or-break season. His numbers slid last season with his PPG dipping to 10.3. He also ended up collecting 7.4 rebounds per game -- lower than his 2023-24 mark.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn continues to face roster makeover thoughts amid its slow start. Rookie Asa Newell rose as a suggestion via the trade market in a proposed deal with the Atlanta Hawks. But Claxton wasn't mentioned as a player who would get moved in such a trade.
Claxton is now playing some of his best basketball since his league arrival. And has sparked a strong December for Brooklyn as the Nets have now won three of their last four.