Inside The Nets

Nic Claxton is excited ahead of the Nets' road game in Paris

Nic Claxton has shown the Nets' excitement for the Nets game in France.

Peter Sunjic

© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The NBA is returning to Paris, France, to hold another regular season game. This time it is a game between the Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, January 11. It is an exciting game for fans and players because the NBA has only visited Europe a few times.

Brooklyn's players, in particular, are excited to be playing on a different continent. Nic Claxton has shown excitement about the game since he visited the City of Light during the offseason.

“I like Paris a lot. It’s just cool being able to go to Europe, being able to play, being on this stage, we can’t take these things for granted,” Nic said after the Nets’ win over the OKC Thunder. “We went to China a few years back, and I know this will be a really good experience for the team. I’m excited, we’ll have a few practice days, a few events, it will be good for us.”

Paris is a great place for basketball

France has produced plenty of players through the years, but with the arrival of 2023 #1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, the country is becoming a hub for basketball. The 2024 event is the third edition of the NBA Paris Games, and this will likely become a tradition, especially with Wemby rapidly becoming the NBA’s newest megastar.

This is also a preview for Parisians and the rest of France for the 2024 Olympics later this year. Basketball is one of the best sports at the Summer Games and names like Donovan Mitchell and Mikal Bridges are likely national team candidates.

Brooklyn will have a tough game in Paris

The Cavaliers are a tough matchup for Brooklyn because they are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland has a 21-15 record ahead of the game in Paris, while the Nets have a tally under .500 at 17-20.

These two teams have played against each other back in the season opener. It was a close game that ended on a 113-114 scoreline after Donovan Mitchell’s game-winning three.

Expect this game to be another nail-biter because both teams have been playing well recently. Claxton, in particular, has been superb recently, which is vital for the team since they’re playing against the frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Jacque Vaughn lauds Dennis Smith Jr.'s impact on the Nets' win over OKC

Published
Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

Home/News