Nic Claxton is one of the best Nets players, and at times has been one of the league’s best defenders. Then last year happened.

As the losses mounted for the tanking Nets, so did Claxton’s frustrations. Plagued by a back injury, the center made matters worse with repeated ejections and technicals. After an admittedly poor campaign, this time around, he has to be better.

Claxton has to be more mature now, on and off the court. After becoming a father in the offseason, he’ll be looked to as a veteran leader in the coming season.

“Yeah, we all know last year was frustrating for the team, frustrating for myself,” Claxton acknowledged. “I didn’t perform how I wanted to.