Jordan Clarkson’s Quiet Emergence
- Updated: April 10, 2015
I stated my case a couple months back as to why Jordan Clarkson needed more minutes this season, and it was so that he may flourish into what his potential showed. By the next game, they did just that and Clarkson was given the nod as the starter. He’s pretty much giving the Laker organization every reason to believe why they should sign him long term.
This year has been a tryout season for the future Laker teams to come. It isn’t Kobe Bryant, nor is it top lottery pick Julius Randle who we were excited to see every time the Lakers hit the court. It’s rookie guard Jordan Clarkson who’s been the only excitement that we’ve had to look forward to this year.
To put things in perspective, Clarkson has had a quite emergence since he’s taken reign over the guard duties and become a full time starter. Pre All-Star break, Clarkson was barely getting any game action, and when he did play it was garbage time. It wasn’t enough to get him into a groove, or be of any help to affect the outcome of the game.
Clarkson was averaging 7.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assist and 81% from the charity strip on eighteen minutes a game. He didn’t pose as much of a threat due to lack of playing time. But as I said, if he got the minutes then he could adjust to NBA life and it would groom him into what he could be; a lethal 6’5 combo guard, who’s agility along with his speed, length, and knack for attacking the rim would be of some serious trouble for the opposing team.
Post All-Star Break, Jordan Clarkson has been a completely different player. First things first, he’s the starting guard now, and also getting starter minutes. He averages thirty minutes a game rather than eighteen minutes like previously before. In his new role he’s been spectacular on the court averaging, 16.2 points, 5.1 assist, 4.8 rebounds, and 84% from the line. Jordan Clarkson continues to make a lot of noise as a rookie and is surprising just about everyone.
What’s this quite emergence that I speak of? Well, he was named the Western Conference Rookie of the month in March. He currently sit’s top three in rookie scoring, he’s already hit game winning free throws against the Milwaukee Bucks, and upped that performance by making the game winning shot in a overtime win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
One of Clarkson’s most memorable performances is when he went toe to toe against Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Clarkson didn’t shy away from the competition as he scored 30 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assist, and 3 blocks versus Westbrook 27 points, 2 rebounds, 11 assist, and 1 block. Westbrook got the last laugh with the win, but the experience, and live game action are paying dividends to his growth as a rookie guard.
The stat sheet will only tell you so much about him. It’s like a spark was lit into the Lakers team once he began starting. The Lakers are a lot more competitive since he’s been starting. The Los Angeles Lakers record won’t show it, but the opposing teams are working harder to get the W this time around. I truly believe that he can only get better from here. With only a handful of games left it’ll be an interesting off season to see how we handle this upcoming rookie’s contract, and whether we stick with him long term and build around him, or if we pursue someone in the draft or free agency.
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