New York Knicks guard Josh Hart and guard Jordan Clarkson steal the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic
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New York Knicks guard Josh Hart and guard Jordan Clarkson steal the ball from Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic at Crypto.com Arena.
The New York Knicks are still searching for answers from their crowded bench, but veteran guard Jordan Clarkson may have offered a reminder Sunday that he remains one of the roster’s most reliable offensive weapons.
Clarkson had barely seen meaningful minutes in recent weeks. His last extended action came during a brief 13-minute appearance in a 137-134 overtime loss on Feb. 10. Since then, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year had largely been buried in the rotation.
But with the Knicks struggling to generate offense against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, head coach Mike Brown turned to Clarkson for a spark.
The veteran responded with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting in just 10 minutes during the second half. Although the Knicks ultimately fell 110-97, Clarkson’s short stint stood out as one of the few bright spots. New York actually outscored the Lakers by four points during the time he was on the floor.
“He’s a guy we can lean on. He can put the ball in the hole,” Brown said. “We were struggling to do that. So I threw him out there to see if we could mix it up. He definitely helped us. But it was too big a deficit if you’re talking about 20 points to try to come back from versus a good team on their home court.”
Knicks Rotation Crunch Limits Jordan Clarkson’s Playing Time
Clarkson’s reduced role has been largely the result of the Knicks’ increasingly deep bench.
Landry Shamet returned from an early-season injury. Then the team added veteran guard Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline and later picked up versatile forward Jeremy Sochan off waivers, creating a logjam for minutes behind the starters.
Brown acknowledged the challenge of distributing playing time among so many capable reserves.
“It’s hard to play 10 guys. It’s hard to play nine guys,” Brown explained. “Right now, we’ve got our starting group, we’ve got Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet has been playing well, and we need a backup point guard and Jose has played well. Now you’re talking nine, 10, 11 guys.”
Brown also pointed to emerging rookie Mo Diawara as another factor in the rotation squeeze.
“It’s just a matter of circumstance based on available time,” Brown added.
Jordan Clarkson Adjusting to Reduced Knicks Role
For Clarkson, the shift has required a significant adjustment.
Earlier this season, the veteran guard delivered key performances during New York’s NBA Cup championship run and the Knicks’ Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. But since the team’s rough 2-9 stretch in January, his role has fluctuated dramatically.
In February, Clarkson spoke candidly about adapting to a reduced role during an interview with the New York Post.
“Offensively and defensively,” Clarkson said when asked how he’s trying to contribute. “They’re asking me to do things defensively as well. And then offensively, I’ve got to figure it out and make stuff out of what comes in the offense in terms of opportunities.”
The veteran acknowledged that he is no longer a focal point in the offense.
“It’s not like I’m featured in the offense or anything,” Clarkson said. “I’m playing hard, crashing the glass, figuring out different things — little things to be effective.”
Despite the change, Clarkson said his approach remains professional.
“I’ll continue to be a pro and stay in the gym and work on my craft,” he said.
Clarkson Provides Offensive Spark Against Lakers
Sunday’s game showed why the Knicks may still need Clarkson’s scoring punch as the postseason approaches.
With New York trailing 97-78 early in the fourth quarter, Clarkson helped ignite a brief rally. He drilled a three-pointer and followed it with a tough midrange jumper during a 12-3 run that trimmed the deficit to 101-90.
Clarkson also contributed defensively, fighting through screens, hustling for the loose ball and contesting shots — a sign he is trying to impact the game beyond his reputation as a microwave scorer.
Even so, the hole proved too large for the Knicks to overcome.
Knicks Veteran Still Searching for Consistency
Statistically, Clarkson is experiencing one of the most difficult seasons of his career. The 33-year-old guard is averaging career lows of 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18 minutes per game.
But Sunday’s performance showed he still possesses the instant-offense ability that once earned him the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
For the Knicks, who are positioning themselves for a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference, that scoring punch could become increasingly valuable — especially when the offense stalls.
And if Brown calls his number again, Clarkson made it clear he’ll be ready.