Nic Claxton Returns to Full Practice, Ending the Bulls' Frontcourt Nightmare

Nic Claxton is officially back to full practice on Sunday, which means the Chicago Bulls might finally have a real center again. K.C. Johnson reported the update, signaling the end of a two-week hamstring saga that left Chicago's frontcourt looking like a pickup run at the local YMCA.

NBA hamstring injuries are basically the human equivalent of a check engine light. You can ignore it for a bit, but if you push the machinery too hard, the whole engine block drops out on the highway.

"Nic Claxton (hamstring) fully practices Sunday. (via @KCJHoop)"

Claxton missing the start of the season was a brutal blow for a Bulls team trying to establish an identity. Coach Tiago has been patching together a rotation, but you can only fake interior defense for so long before opposing guards start treating the paint like a layup line.

For context, Claxton is coming off a 2025-26 campaign where he averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 boards while shooting a highly efficient 57.1 percent from the floor. You do not just replace that kind of production with a couple of undersized forwards and good vibes.

If you have been stashing him on your fantasy bench or waiting to fire on his rebound props, this full practice is the green light you needed. The sportsbooks will likely tread lightly with his initial lines, which usually means a heavy discount on his standard production.

The next step is getting him officially cleared for game action. Expect a strict minutes restriction whenever he does step on the floor, but just having his 6-foot-11 frame back in the building completely changes the math for Chicago.