Nic Claxton probably wishes the internet had a short memory. Unfortunately for him-and for the Brooklyn Nets-it doesn't.
On Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks didn’t just beat the Nets. They dismantled them.
The final score? 120-66.
That’s a 54-point margin, the kind of blowout that leaves a mark on a franchise, not just a box score. And in the aftermath, an old quote from Claxton came back to haunt him.
“Personally, I’ve never lost to the Knicks since I’ve been in the league,” Claxton said back in 2023. That statement aged about as well as unrefrigerated milk.
Since making that comment, Claxton and the Nets have now dropped 13 straight to the Knicks. That’s not just a losing streak-it’s a full-on drought. And while Claxton has grown into Brooklyn’s starting center since being drafted 31st overall in 2019, that particular stat line is one he’d probably like to forget.
"Me I never lost to the Knicks since I been in the league"
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 22, 2026
–– Nic Claxton now 0-13 vs Knicks since thispic.twitter.com/Oe39S43NFJ
The timing of this latest loss stings even more given the context. The Knicks came into the game struggling, trying to shake off a recent slump.
But against their crosstown rivals, they flipped the switch. They played like a team with something to prove-and they proved it loudly.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. And the Nets?
They were on the wrong end of it, looking outmatched from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
Claxton, for all his development into a reliable presence in the paint, found himself at the center of the internet’s attention for all the wrong reasons. Social media didn’t hold back, with fans piling on in the wake of the blowout.
“I’m sure he had a lot of fun today,” one user quipped.
“Never ever gets old,” another added, referencing the viral nature of Claxton’s now-infamous quote.
Even the Nets’ social media team wasn’t spared, with one fan joking, “I’m sure admin must be kicking his feet in the air and giggling every time he gets to tweet this.”
And of course, the barbershop commentary made its way in too: “Make it 0-14 with that ridiculous haircut.”
Now, to be clear, Claxton isn’t the reason the Nets are in this position. He’s been a steady contributor, anchoring the defense and showing real growth since his early years riding the bench.
But in a rivalry like Knicks-Nets, moments like these get magnified. And when the scoreboard reads 120-66, there’s nowhere to hide.
The Knicks, for their part, looked like a team ready to make another postseason run. Their energy was different, their execution sharp. If this is the version of New York that shows up down the stretch, the Eastern Conference should take notice.
As for the Nets, they’ve got some soul-searching to do. The losses are piling up, and so are the questions. But if there’s one thing they can count on, it’s that the internet won’t let them-or Claxton-forget this one anytime soon.