Jordan Clarkson is set to face off against his former team on Wednesday as the Knicks take on the Jazz, and despite his reduced role in New York, he’s looking forward to the “happiness and joy” of facing the team for whom he won a Sixth Man of the Year award, Stefan Bondy writes for the New York Post.
According to Clarkson, he’s not bothered by his inconsistent playing time because the Knicks were up front with him when he signed with them.
“I ain’t coming in expecting anything, honestly,” Clarkson said. “A lot of people made expectations on my arrival and what I can do and what I’ve done my whole career. But not knowing anything, I came here with an open canvas. I just knew one goal and what we wanted to do, and that’s to win.”
Clarkson added that he has nothing but positive feelings about the Jazz.
“That’s a home for me. I loved the organization. I love the coaching staff. Yeah, I love the city. All I had was love there,” he said. “… I’m going to try to keep my cool in terms of not feeling [emotional], just all the gratitude and everything that the city is giving me.”
The veteran guard also recently spoke to Mark Medina of Essentially Sports about his hopes to lead Team Philippines in this summer’s Asia Cup.
“For us and for me, not making the Olympics and not fully accomplishing what we want to accomplish in the World Cup,” he said, of what was driving him. “Reaching the goal of having a chance to make the Olympics, I think, is a big thing for me and to represent the country.”
He went on to say he thinks the Filipino team has a good shot at the next Olympics, reiterating his hopes for his own role and the team as a whole.
“We just got to figure out how to mesh the guys together and play the right combinations and figure it out from there,” he said. “We got a lot of talent on the team, from older dudes to younger dudes as well. Hopefully, they let me play as a naturalized player and give me some leeway on things so we can continue to get more talent and we stay loaded.”
With the influx of more players in the league with Filipino heritage, such as Jalen Green (Suns), Dylan Harper (Spurs), and Jared McCain (Thunder), Clarkson hopes that his time with the team can help inspire the next generation and build the program up moving forward.
Clarkson was signed to be the scoring off the bench. Not sure what happened that made Brown stop playing him. But I don’t like it. Pretty sure it has to do with his D. Yet we knew who he was when we signed him. If he is scoring you have to play him. He’s a career 16 a game scorer. Thats better than Bridges, Hart, and OG career…. So what’s up coach ??
Clarkson deserves more than garbage time playing. He’s deserves a better chance. Shamet is actually playing more and I guess that’s because he’s better on defense. I’m confused. I was excited about the signing last summer
Love Landry lol. Just I don’t get why coach did this. We need that scoring off the bench. Duece will be back for playoffs too. I’m getting nervous man. We have to be set for playoffs
Was he signed before Thibs was let go? Otherwise it makes no sense because like you say Clarkson is a known commodity in the league at this point, both his positives and warts
Had to look that up. He was signed after Thibs got fired. But before they signed Brown. So its all on Rose. Last yr biggest need was bench scoring.
Al,
It’s Tnot coincidence that nicks are struggling now that Clarkston is back. They were playing well while he was hurt. I’m just being honest. There was a reason he was bought out. He’s not the score anymore that he was cuz he can’t get to the rim like he used to. He’s pretty much at the end of his career and you’re better off giving those minutes to mcbride when he comes back. He should be a third string now on a championship contender team. Also, I said that at the beginning of the year because as someone who’s played and realized at the end of their career when you’re getting bought out and cut, there’s a reason why teams are doing that.
He’s not that old. And hasn’t played starter mins for yrs. So the last thing he is, Is Done at 33 yrs old.
Brown sat him cause Landry came back. And wanted to see him with real mins. Clarkson is not the defender Landry is. But none of that matters when you need scoring. Clarkson can still give you points. Its who he is. It’s up to the coach to put him in a position to succeed. This coach is like Towns soft and don’t handle adversity well. Competition is about winning. You don’t give up on guys cause it gets rough. You push them to ride it out. It’s just basketball. It’s like riding a bike. You get back up and do it. Just like he did tonight — 27 mins, 27 points. He’s a scorer. And we need that.
I get what you’re saying but the tapes say different. He is not a good enough scorer anymore to keep up with the lack of defense at 33 years old. And that’s okay because I believe father time hit him. That’s why I said he’s a third string guard. You need players like Clarkson in playoff series to come in and swing a game or two. But as far as consistent output I don’t see it from watching tape and film from this season. He will have games here or there but a consistent basis. I don’t see it anymore. Again, last night was against a tanking team. And to be honest New York loses of Utah does and bullets starters as they have done for the last couple of weeks. They pulled KG and held them the 20 minutes. He is going to be a borderline All-Star next year.
I really hope you told it is not win a top five pick. They don’t deserve it for how they played the tanking game this year.
And I know we had this discussion. I’m all okay with tanking But only for teams that don’t have the talent not for teams that could actually win games and just trying to lose on purpose so they can get one more pick
I don’t see a change physically. He looks the good to me. I agree that consistency was not there. Neither is there with Towns or Bridges. It’s not age lol. It’s a new team and coach. This is starting to feel the pressure of winning in NY. There are expectations here after last year. Imo Clarkson should be 6th man. Just play him and live with it. 18-22 mins a game. Knicks can go ten deep easy this year. He has to be a part of rotation.
Al,
I agree on most of what you say not this. If you watch him he has lost a step getting to the rim. I’m sure the scouting report is about taking his jumpshot away. Clarkston was a dangerous score and could score 10 points in 5 minutes easily. I just think it’s. He slowed down a little bit and honestly we saw this in the Fiba and world cup play as well. I believe he will have a good game in the playoffs for a game or two in the series.
They need him to come off pin Downs and screens a little bit more.
For Kat I just believe him in brunson don’t play well together and that’s the truth. He makes too much money and what the amount of money he makes. You got to have more defenders around him and an athletic center who can score. Mitch to me in all honesty is just a good backup center and I would like to see an actual rim protecting power forward or an athletic defensive center play with towns. Of at the 3. Bridges at the 2. I was hoping shohan would be of it to come in but it doesn’t seem like he has a spot
I disagree Jordan hasn’t lost much. It’s more the offense. That is affecting everyone if you ask me. When the chips are down or the game is on the line. They revert back to Thibs iso offense with Brunson. It’s why teams have keyed on Brunson.
Now you are talking about the whole team lol. And it’s way too late for that. All that matters now is they play to win. This team without Mitch and a bench. Was good enough to get to Finals. They didn’t show up for Pacers. And the Pacers made them pay for that. This year they should easily go into East Finals. With Mitch all year. And a better bench, ok.
Should ?? Coulda woulda ????
Yet they are more inconsistent than last year. Only one reason for that The Coach. We are way past complaining about fit and chemistry. This is the second year for this core. They know whats expected of them. Time for leadership to man up. It starts with the coach. This team playing like they are capable. Should come out the East. Unfortunately they haven’t shown that consistently to believe it.
It ain’t over til it’s over 🎶🎶
Someone got the message lols ….. 🙏
20 mins, 21 pts
YES ……. YES good game Jordan 🏀 🏀
Clarkson — 27 mins, 27 pts .. now we talking
Knicks 42–25 ….. want that 2nd seed.
Clarkson hasn’t had double digit minutes in like a month of games before the Knicks’ game against the jazz last night. Not sure how you can blame him for any of their recent struggles
Not blaming him because he’s not that big component of the team. But they did have some good wins while he was out. I’m not saying that he’s not an NBA player anymore. I’m just saying if you’re counting on him to be your number one bench score. That’s not who he is anymore . Of course he’s going to have good games against tanking teams and that’s the problem with the NBA right now. There’s so many teams just throwing guys who have no business being in the NBA. It does mess with stats. Has we just saw 83 points that got you thinking in a playoff series or when you’re playing against all playoff teams that’s not going to happen.
I said the same thing earlier this year about LeBron that he doesn’t fit with AR and Luca and that he’s a negative on the court and people just didn’t want to hear or understand because at a certain age you no longer can unpack your team. If you’re playing a certain amount of minutes, you will get exposed
Yeah just not sure what that was about lol. I know Landry coming back was part of it. There were gms where we needed scoring and he sat. Knicks with McBride back can easily go ten deep. Man I hope this coach knows that.