Nic Claxton on DPOY race: 'I should be No. 1'

After being groomed his first three seasons to become the future starting center of the Nets, Nic Claxton has helped transform Brooklyn’s defense and made a case for himself in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.

Amid a breakout campaign as Brooklyn’s starting center, Claxton leads the NBA in field goal percentage (.732) and block percentage (8.2) while ranking second in defensive rating (106.7) per Basketball-Reference.

Before facing the Thunder on Sunday, Claxton discussed why he believes he’s the Defensive Player of the Year. Claxton also explained why he can become a future All-Star, how playing with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving has changed his role, what he thinks of his future with the Nets, and more in an interview with HoopsHype.