Jordan Clarkson, Knicks
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Jordan Clarkson will provide instant scoring off the bench for the New York Knicks.
It took only two minutes for Jordan Clarkson to decide to join the New York Knicks this offseason, a choice that instantly brought him back into the national spotlight after a limited season with the Utah Jazz.
The Filipino-American guard recounted the quick decision during the live taping of the Roommates Show podcast block party at Central Park over the weekend, co-hosted by his Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart.
“Where you wanna go?” asked Clarkson’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, during a phone call while watching a Carlos Alcaraz match at Wimbledon in London, according to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy.
“I said, ‘I wanna come to New York,’” Clarkson recalled Saturday night.
Paul immediately relayed Clarkson’s interest to the Knicks. “It all happened in two minutes,” Clarkson said. “Then I was a Knick.”
Joining the Knicks on a Veteran Minimum
Clarkson joined the Knicks on a veteran minimum deal after reaching a buyout with the tanking Jazz. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Clarkson gave up $3.6 million in his contract buyout, which he will recoup under his new deal in New York. He was due to make $14.3 million this season.
Clarkson, 33, relishes the opportunity to compete for a championship after appearing in only 33 games last season for Utah. The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year said playing at Madison Square Garden — “The Mecca” — factored heavily into his decision.
“The arena, honestly,” Clarkson said on the podcast when asked why he chose New York over other contenders. “The energy in the arena… this is a place that everybody wakes up and wants to play, wants to be a part of it. Being a Knick in that sense, you have a sense of pride. You know it’s love around the city always for the Knicks.”
Earlier this summer, Clarkson shared a similar sentiment with Kith founder Ronnie Fieg during a fall campaign promo.
“I just think the energy in the arena… you feel it when you play,” Clarkson said. “It’s a city that lives and breathes basketball.”
Cultural Significance and International Experience
For Clarkson, the move represents more than just another stop in his NBA journey. It’s a chance to compete in a franchise with global recognition and a passionate, multicultural fanbase. As a Filipino-American, Clarkson will also draw support from the city’s sizable Filipino community, which numbers over 250,000.
“Feeling the energy from the fans. Knowing they’re going to let you have it if you’re playing like [expletive]. But when you’re playing great, it’s all love. At the end of the day, I just want to feel the energy. Get to play with y’all,” he told Brunson and Hart during the live podcast taping.
Last season in Utah, Clarkson averaged 16.2 points and 3.7 assists, shooting 36.2% from three-point range. Internationally, he led the Philippine national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, posting 26 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in 36 minutes. His overseas experience complements the Knicks’ roster, which includes teammates Brunson and Hart representing Team USA, and Karl-Anthony Towns representing the Dominican Republic.
Boosting the Knicks’ Bench
“Y’all been doing great things over here,” Clarkson said. “I just want to come in here and enhance what y’all got going on.”
The Knicks are expecting Clarkson to energize the bench, which ranked last in scoring last season, and contribute to a more balanced rotation that could help the team contend not only in the Eastern Conference but for the NBA title.