Nets' Nic Claxton, Michael Porter Jr. Discuss Rapidly Developing Chemistry

The two players have found an effective on-court partnership in Brooklyn.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:54pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in vibrant colors depicting the fast-paced action of a basketball game, with the players' movements and the court itself broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes.The dynamic on-court chemistry between Nets stars Nic Claxton and Michael Porter Jr. is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration.Brooklyn Today

Brooklyn Nets players Nic Claxton and Michael Porter Jr. have quickly developed strong on-court chemistry, with Claxton's passing and lob threat complementing Porter's scoring ability. The two players discussed how their games feed off each other, with Claxton's defensive presence and Porter's shooting creating an effective partnership.

Why it matters

The Nets have struggled with injuries and chemistry issues this season, so the developing rapport between Claxton and Porter could be a key factor in helping the team turn things around and make a playoff push.

The details

Claxton and Porter have found an effective two-man game, with Claxton's passing and lob threat creating open looks for Porter, who is adept at cutting and finishing at the rim. Porter also noted that Claxton's screening and floor-reading ability have helped unlock new dimensions to his own game.

  • The Nets went 7-4 in December, leading the league in defense at that point in the season.

The players

Nic Claxton

A versatile big man for the Brooklyn Nets known for his defensive prowess and improving passing skills.

Michael Porter Jr.

A talented scorer who was recently traded to the Nets after spending his entire career with the Denver Nuggets, where he played alongside All-Star Nikola Jokić.

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What they’re saying

“We just flow. Mike, he just made the game so easy. I think him playing in Denver, him playing with Joker, he really just knows how to cut and he's a big target out there. He's easy to pass the ball to. Obviously, he grew his game a lot [in terms of] finding his teammates. He drew a lot of attention for us. Teams would have to double team him off of screens and dribble handoffs. So it just flowed. He's a high-level basketball player, I'm a high-level basketball player .We just figured it out and created some chemistry pretty quick out there.”

— Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets Player

“I think Clax and me, our games really feed off of each other. He's an underrated passer. He can really read the floor, and so he was able to find me. In that action where I'm coming off triple handoffs, over time we kind of figured out the different reads. We figured out when his defender comes up and blitzes that I can find him in a pocket. We figured out that when his defender's down the floor, I can kind of get downhill and throw the lob to him, or I can go finish at the rim. And then he's a good screener as well, so I was able to come off a lot and get a lot of threes that way.”

— Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets Player

What’s next

The Nets will look to continue building on the chemistry between Claxton and Porter as they push for a playoff spot in the second half of the season.

The takeaway

The developing partnership between Claxton and Porter could be a key factor in helping the Nets turn their season around, as the two players have quickly found an effective on-court rhythm that complements each other's strengths.