Lakers Review: How Did Jordan Clarkson Perform This Year?

Jordan Clarkson’s journey as a Los Angeles Laker has been an interesting one. He was drafted 46^th by the Washington Wizards and essentially purchased on draft night. Some draft experts predicted he’d be a late first rounder, but he fell and the Lakers seem to have benefitted.

Clarkson has gone from a draft night afterthought to a potential first-team all-rookie honoree. He’s a bit older than today’s typical rookie, but has a bright future ahead of him nonetheless.

All that said, though, the question begs asking: how much of his success have to do with situation?

One of my least favorite sayings when referring to a player who produces at least in part thanks to being surrounded by relative ineptitude is the “looter in a riot” theory. The term refers to one of humanity’s ugliest tendencies. Instead, I prefer the Trip-To-The-All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet-Surrounded-By-Supermodels theory. With all that food around and no one to eat it, why not engorge oneself with all those stats?

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Essentially, in any NBA game, each team will score at least 80 or so points, with “X” amount of assists, rebounds, steals and so on. Those statistics have to go somewhere – typically the most talented player for each team. Obviously, that’s pretty simplified, but that’s the thinking.

It’s a credit to Clarkson that in his first professional season, he’d be arguably the most talented player on an NBA team, but I’m giving this Lakers roster a lot of credit by referring to them as an NBA team. As always, there’s a middle ground. Clarkson probably won’t average the 18.5 points, 6.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game he’s done over the last month throughout his career. That doesn’t mean he’s not worth keeping for the foreseeable future, either, though.

A good sign, here, is how efficiently Clarkson has been able to produce. In that month I referred to, he tallied those assists while only turning the ball over 2.7 times. His assist to turnover ratio (2.7) ranked 27^thamong point guards in April – including players who only played one or two games in that stretch. That type of efficiency handling the basketball is something to build on moving forward.

Aside from three-point shooting, Clarkson’s shooting statistics are also impressive. He shot 45% from the field and 83% from the free throw line. One would have to imagine a priority this summer will be to improve on his 31% from three-point distance; but overall, those are fairly impressive splits. Since the All-Star break, Clarkson actually had an even higher 48% from the field and 84% from the charity stripe.

Those efficiency numbers point to likelihood his production is reasonably sustainable. Again, I’m not predicting Clarkson will be anything close to a perennial all-star, only that this season might really be a glimpse of things to come.

April 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) moves the ball up court against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

He did all that, by the way, playing for a coach who considered Ronnie Price a better solution at point guard than Clarkson and Jeremy Lin. Byron Scott bumbled through this season displaying levels of incompetence usually only reserved for Verizon Fios. Could you imagine Clarkson’s production with Mike D’Antoni at the helm? He might’ve competed for rookie of the year. Instead, he hardly played the first couple months of the season and finally took over the reins only when it appeared the Lakers were out of playoff contention.

Scott will probably be back next season, but for the love of all things good, please don’t let Price remain on this roster. The Lakers simply can’t afford to tempt Scott with Price over Clarkson.

All that said, easily the most exciting aspect of Clarkson’s season is a little harder to statistically extricate.

2015’s NBA is defined by generationally great point guards. Facing guys like Chris Paul and Stephen Curry within his own division seems pretty close to the definition of throwing someone into the lion’s den. Yet, at no point during games against elite point guards did Clarkson ever back down. After games, when asked about facing the rookie, opposing guards would credit Clarkson for his talent, potential and toughness.

I don’t know about you, but those three qualities seem like great places to start when you’re talking about a young point guard.

Next: Is History On Lakers Side For No. 1 Pick?

More from Lake Show Life