The Los Angeles Lakers selected guard Jordan Clarkson with the 46th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft after purchasing the pick from the Washington Wizards for $1.8 million. The move proved to be fortuitous, as Clarkson has far exceeded expectations during his time in purple and gold and received a contract worth four years and $50 million this summer.
If Clarkson’s current level of play is any indication, he will still be an excellent bargain even with his increased salary. Known for his hard work in the offseason, Clarkson spent the summer working on his defense and his outside shooting, and through two preseason games it’s paying off. Coach Luke Walton was complimentary of Clarkson’s performance following a loss to the Denver Nuggets (via Lakers Nation’s own Ryan Ward):
Luke Walton on Jordan Clarkson “he might’ve been our best player in the first half” also praised his improved defense
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 8, 2016
Surprisingly, Walton has asked Clarkson to come off the bench, swapping places with Lou Williams as the team’s backup shooting guard. Alongside fellow high-energy players like Larry Nance Jr. and Tarik Black, Clarkson has thrived, using his quickness and newfound defensive prowess to force turnovers and attack in transition. Against the Nuggets, Clarkson led the team with four steals, while chipping in 15 points and two assists in just 19 minutes of playing time.
Clarkson credited an aggressive mentality on both ends of the floor for his success:
Jordan Clarkson on bench role: “As long as I’m on the court, I am going to impact the game. I’m going to be aggressive on offense… (1/2)
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 8, 2016
Jordan Clarkson: “…I’m going to score, I’m going to get after it defensively. It’s the same thing to me.” (2/2) #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 8, 2016
While it’s not clear whether or not Clarkson will continue to come off the bench or if Walton will toss him back into the starting lineup, the young guard has certainly turned some heads with his play. It’s still early and two preseason games don’t necessarily equate to regular season success, but so far it looks like the Lakers made the right move in re-signing Clarkson this summer.