Clarkson shines in starting role, challenged to become more vocal

Jordan Clarkson started at point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in their last two games.

One of the reasons why Lakers coach Luke Walton relegated D’Angelo Russell, the team’s leading scorer, to the bench was to figure out what Clarkson’s full potential could be.

The move was vital for the team’s evaluation of their pieces heading into the offseason, Walton explained. That’s why young center Ivica Zubac also got more playing time.

Clarkson got the nod to start at point guard in the Lakers’ games against the Nuggets and Rockets. Though both were blowout losses, the Fil-Am guard provided pretty solid numbers, averaging 18.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 36 minutes of action.

In an interview posted on Lakers.com, Clarkson said he’s slowly getting the hang of being a starter.

“It’s coming. I felt comfortable in the first games,” he said. “It’s another role change for me but I think I’m coming along.”

Clarkson, however, pointed out that some of the things the Lakers need to improve on are communication and accountability.

“Talk and communicate; that’s where I feel like we lack sometimes because we’re young. You feel like you’re doing something wrong but you don’t want to speak up,” he explained. “We have to step out of our comfort zone and really start to do that.”

“Coach does his job in terms of trying to point as many mistakes we make throughout the game. But as a team, that’s where we have to correct everything on the floor and during that time (we need to) speak up and get on each other,” he added.

After the Lakers’ practice on Thursday, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and General Manager Rob Pelinka dropped by the gym to talk to the players individually.

Clarkson said the Lakers executives gave him feedback on how he can better communicate with his teammates. He conceded the process as “work,” admitting he isn’t really a vocal guy.

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“I’ve always haven’t been the most talkative guy. I was just talking to them about being able to get that with my teammates — being able to talk to them and communicate with them and see what’s going on.”

Apart from Clarkson, Johnson and Pelinka also talked to Russell, Zubac, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle, among others.

Clarkson said it was “cool” getting advice and knowledge from upper management.

“It’s good for us, being able to talk to them and pick their brains as well. Just having that level of just that open-door presence.”

It remains uncertain how long he’ll stay in the starting five in place of Russell, but whenever he’s on the court he is productive.

Next: The Case for Drafting Jayson Tatum

Let’s see if he can continue to put up great numbers and become the vocal leader Johnson and Pelinka want him to be.