Lakers News: Luke Walton Praises Jordan Clarkson’s Strong Play

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read

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):

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:

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.

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
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