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The 5-foot-11 point guard was traded by the Atlanta Hawks back to the Golden State Warriors, a team he played for from 2003 to 2005. He is in the final season of an injury plagued four-year contract. Claxton, who hurt his knee prior to first year in the NBA in 2001 with the Philadelphia 76ers, was plagued with injuries during his last three years in the league. He played just 44 games combined with the Hawks because of hamstring and knee problems. Claxton needs to prove he is completely healthy.

 

“They want to see how my knee is going to hold up,” the former Hofstra and Christ the King star said. “It’s doing pretty good. I did a lot of training on it this summer and it’s feeling pretty good. It’s coming around.”  

 

Claxton takes comfort in the fact that he is familiar with Golden State and the city of Oakland. It was the place he had his best two seasons as an NBA player, averaging 11.8 points and 5.3 assists per game before being traded to the New Orleans Hornets for Baron Davis. Claxton, who helped lead Hofstra to the 2000 NCAA tournament, as spent the summer working out in Manhattan and on Long Island to strengthen his knee and work on his conditioning.

 

“I played against him,” former Royals teammate and well-known streetball player Ira Miller said. “He is hard to guard. I am considered a defender in the city playing the Andre Barretts, the Kenny Satterfields and [Steve] Burtt Jr. He’s still got it. He is a smart player.”

 

Playing time in Golden State will be hard to come by. The Warriors have eight potential guards, two of whom can play a forward spot, on their roster including Jamal Crawford and Acie Law, who were part of the deal the brought Claxton and first-round draft pick Stephen Curry to Golden State. Claxton, who led Christ the King to a city title with Lamar Odom and Erick Barkley, will have to earn every minute.

 

“Just show people that my knee is healthy and I can try to play two or three more years,” he said of his mindset for the season.

 

Even if this is a closing chapter on Claxton’s NBA career he will always have the championship ring he earned in 2002 with the San Antonio Spurs as a backup to star Tony Parker. He played in every playoff game, averaging just over five points a contest.

 

“That was the best feeling ever as a pro,” he said. “That is the ultimate goal that everybody plays for year in and year out. To have a chance to not only play, but contribute and to win it is very special.”  

 

Claxton, who was born in Hempstead, was back in Queens on Saturday afternoon making an appearance a youth basketball clinic run by former Cardozo star and current Philadelphia 76ers guard Royal Ivey at IS 192 in St. Albans.  

 

“Royal is a good friend of mine and I always try to support anyone who is doing something positive,” he said. “This is definitely something positive in the community. I just wanted to come out here and help him in any way I can.”  

 

That is exactly what he hopes to do this season Golden State. It will be a tough task in a contract year where his game will be heavily scrutinized and his health questioned early on.

 

“There is going to be a lot of pressure on him, a lot of eyes on him when he gets to Golden State,” Miller said. “There are a lot of guards there. He has to prove himself.”

 

  jstaszewski@fiveborosports.com