The day has come where Kobe Bryant is no longer the star of the Los Angeles Lakers and a new era of young players are being ushered into the forefront. Among these young players is Jordan Clarkson, who took the league by storm after being selected with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
The Lakers are set to begin a new era with their young core and they are years away from championship contention, but they will play an exciting brand of basketball with newly hired Head Coach Luke Walton pulling the strings.
In an interview with Christopher Cason of Hypebeast.com, Clarkson said things will be different without Kobe Bryant in the locker room:
“It’s going to feel different, but at the same time, we’re beginning our own paths now. There is definitely going to be something missing with him being gone, even throughout the entire NBA. Everyone is so used to seeing Kobe in that Lakers jersey. It’s definitely going to be different but we will get through it.”
It will be an adjustment that every basketball fan around the world will have to make. The Lakers have been synonymous with number 24, and now that Kobe is retired there will be an obvious void of star power in Los Angeles.
Clarkson loves the Los Angeles lifestyle and has not shied away from the spotlight during his first two seasons with the Lakers. He has worked hard this summer to improve his game and he is ready to usher in this new Lakers era with his young teammates.
As one of the older members of this young core, as well as the most accomplished as far as NBA success, some players may look towards Clarkson to lead the way, something he is ready to do.