Nic Claxton is officially back in full health and ready to anchor the Chicago Bulls defense. The former Brooklyn Nets big man finally cleared up the confusion about his lingering back issues during his first media appearance with the new team. He told reporters that the pain is gone and he knows exactly how to manage his body for the long haul.
A Player Who Learned From His Mistakes
The Bulls needed a genuine rim protector for years, and they finally got one by trading for Claxton this summer. Absorbing the remaining two years of his contract into cap space, they essentially gave up nothing in return. Finishing the 2025-26 season allowing the fourth-most points in the paint per game made this move smart. The year before that, they surrendered the single most points in the paint. Claxton is the answer to those ugly numbers.
Claxton was open about his struggles when he arrived in Chicago on September 28, 2026. He did not make excuses for his drop in performance. He admitted that his back issues were a major problem a few years ago but insisted they are no longer an issue. “A couple of years ago it really bothered me,” Claxton said of his back issues. He followed that up with a clear statement on his current status. “Last year it wasn’t a problem. It’s not a problem now. I’ve figured out my body. I’ve figured out what I need to do to stay on top of it, and I’m good to go.”
Why The Bulls Took A Chance On Him
Some fans might worry because Claxton’s defensive numbers slipped last season. With a defensive box plus-minus of just 0.6, his lowest mark since he played only 49 games in 2021-22, he declined. He also shot a career second-worst 57.1 percent from the field during the 2025-26 season. But those stats came while he was playing on a Brooklyn team that was actively trying to lose games. Drafting five rookies in 2025, the franchise got their wish of finishing with one of the worst records in the league.
Claxton knows the trade happened and he expected it. He did not seem surprised to be wearing a Bulls uniform. “As far as the trade, I expected something to happen,” he told the press. He also acknowledged that his previous team’s culture affected his play. “Obviously, yeah, especially last year,” he noted when asked if the tanking in Brooklyn took a toll. Now he is in Chicago with a frontcourt that actually wants to win. The Bulls gave up $23+ million in cap space to get him, so they need him to be the defensive anchor they have been missing.
During the 2025-26 season despite the struggles, he averaged 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. In 2023, he was once one of the most efficient two-way bigs in the NBA, swatting at least two balls a game. If he can return to that 2023 form, the Bulls’ defense will instantly look like a different team. The front office made a bold move to shore up the frontcourt, and Claxton says he is ready to deliver.
The Verdict On The Rebuild
Bryson Graham made his first move to fix the biggest hole in the roster, and it looks like the right call. For too long the Bulls leaned on offensive-minded bigs, which set them up for failure with an equally offensive-minded backcourt. That strategy resulted in the team being one of the most easily penetrable squads in the NBA. Claxton brings the switchable defense and shot-blocking ability they lacked. He has figured out his body and he is good to go. The Bulls finally have a rim protector who knows how to stay on top of his game.
