Jordan Clarkson: Hit the Ground Running

Most recently, he was found working on a multitude of isolation skills.  They were impressive to see at this stage of development.  Thanks to CityLeagueHoopsTV for the coverage.

Jordan has had a marathon of a season.  It isn’t just the busy off-season, but rather, the NCAA season at Missouri, the Vegas Pro League, the OVO/Bounce tournament, and all of the recent practices and work outs at the gym.  If there is a rookie wall, chances are, he has already hit it and jumped over it.

The way he has worked this off-season is the way Laker fans would love to see every Laker player spend their summers.  Fans can see Clarkson’s drive and dedication.

In fact, so much was made of Clarkson’s debut at the Vegas Pro League and his workouts, that it had one editor wondering if he was the next Nick Van Exel-type point guard for the Lakers.  He’s the biggest point guard the Lakers have, but also the most dynamic in terms of how he attacks the basket and breaks down the defender.

Some of us were looking forward to seeing him get more playing time.  The recent signing of Ronnie Price has relieved him of the pressure of consistent playing time. Coach Byron Scott should make the decision based on how well he plays, not based on needs for the position.

His role with the Lakers is to be the third-string guard for the team.  The point guard position is loaded with Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, and Ronnie Price.  The shooting guard position is loaded with Kobe Bryant and Nick Young. While the guard position is deep, the Lakers are prepared for injuries in case anything happens.  This way, Jordan Clarkson can play in stints throughout the season and show his talent on the floor.  It also buys him time for his body to recover during the season as well.

While he has the length of a shooting guard, point guard is his best position.  He is a solid catch-and-shoot player, but is easily more comfortable breaking down his defender off-the-dribble or using pick-and-roll play to initiate offense.  His length and energy is also a beneficial tool defensively.  There will be situations where he may be asked to switch from point guard to small forward.  Rookies tend to struggle defensively with NBA speed, but his size allows him to switch as the situation dictates.

Overall, Jordan Clarkson has had a tremendous year.  He finished college.  The Lakers bought the second-round pick just to acquire him.  He had an excellent debut.  Fans of this site are aware of his capabilities.  We look forward to seeing him get playing time, and hopefully get the Lakers some wins this upcoming year.