Granted Jordan Clarkson is playing fewer minutes than he did last season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ guard is putting up numbers that are every bit as good. Thus, is he worthy of the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award?
Because Lonzo Ball and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are the starting guards for the Los Angeles Lakers, they tend to receive more of the media attention. However, the rookie and defensive stopper are not the only backcourt players worthy of said attention.
Indeed, and in spite of his backup role this season, Jordan Clarkson deserves to be in the conversation as well. The 6’5” combo guard has been instrumental for L.A. this year, namely because of how consistent he has been.
Although words akin to consistent can grow dry in a heartbeat, it is a fitting one when Clarkson is analyzed. The fourth-year veteran has particularly been steady with respect to putting the rock through the net. As a result, it is not ridiculous to think that he is likely in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year prize.
In addition to averaging three assists and nearly three boards a night, the 15.4 clip scoring-wise has been impressive. What’s more is that JC has only had three games thus far where he has tallied less than ten points.
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What has likewise been nice about the scoring threat is just how economical he has been through 21 contests. Jordan has shot 49.4 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from downtown.
The 25-year-old has also been serviceable at the charity stripe. While his 75.4 percent mark is a tad south of his career average, it is respectable. Considering the fact that the Lakers have been bad as a unit at the free throw line, JC has been one of the few anomalies.
Free throw percentage is largely a product of one’s mental state. That being said, it is fair to assert that this element of Clarkson’s game is sharper than that of, say, Ball’s.
Factors like free throws, too, play quite a role in the later portions of ballgames. This adds more validity to the idea that a guy like JC should have been on the floor late in the fourth quarter Monday night. Certainly, the final result may not have been different, yet the squad may have had a greater chance to win.
Jordan Clarkson was not afraid to shed light on this questionable choice when talking to Shahan Ahmed of NBC LA.
"“It tough as hell, to be honest with you,” Clarkson said after a long pause and a deep sigh. “Because I’m a competitor like everybody else in this locker room. You want to be on the floor. It is what it is. I can’t control nothing [sic] of what’s going on. [Walton] put the guys, he thought, on the floor that are going to win the game for us.”Clarkson repeated, “It is what it is.”"
Clarkson is right on cue when he reveals that he has no control over the rotations. Nevertheless, his frustration, in that case, is understandable. It demonstrates, too, that the young man desperately wants to see action in those tight, pressured moments. That is a good thing worth noting.
What has perhaps been the most intriguing part of Clarkson’s season, though, is when his minutes are mulled over. Last year the American-Filipino ballplayer averaged over 29 minutes a game. This season that number descends to a little over 22 a game.
What is curious is that the four-year professional averaged 14.7 points, 2.6 dimes, and 3.0 boards a game last year. Therefore, he is actually doing more with less in 2017-2018 as strange as that appears.
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It is arguable that this surge has been due to there being less pressure on the 25-year-old. Since he is no longer a regular starter, he is able to play the game with a little extra freedom.
The strong, eye-opening play seems to also be there because of trade speculation. Earlier this year, Clarkson placed further perspective on that idea via what JR Isaga of Rappler.com transcribes.
"As for the trade rumors, he said that “to me it’s motivation. It’s a business, you’re either going to be here or you ain’t. Wherever I am I want to be productive.”"
It is no secret that this member of the purple-and-gold has been productive. On Wednesday he was just that versus Golden State, accruing 21 points over 35 minutes of action. The Lakers’ bench leader even had a season high in assists with eight.
Albeit it is a tiny sample size, Wednesday night is an example of what Clarkson is capable of when given more minutes.
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At any rate, it is plausible to conclude that no matter how many minutes JC is on the floor each night, he will make the most of them. He has been nothing short of reliable more often than not. Given that truth, the Sixth Man distinction is not unrealistic at this interval.