Jaylen Clark is playing in his first official NBA season after he missed the 2023-24 campaign due to injury. The 2024-25 season has been his first opportunity in the NBA, and he has proven himself as a legitimate contributor for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Coming off an Achilles tear, possibly professional sports' worst injury is tough. However, Clark has taken on the challenge head-on, proving he can have a long NBA career if he keeps playing and helping Minnesota.
Clark has only played 31 games for the Timberwolves with stats that do not jump off the page. He averages 4.7 points, 1.3 bounds, and 0.7 assists per game. However, the most impressive stat is his 1.1 steals per game.
For a player who only plays 14.3 minutes a night, Jaylen is making an impact on the defensive end. He came into the league as one of the best defenders in college basketball, and it is translating well even after the injury. Clark has impressed the fans and members of the Timberwolves organization, including veteran teammate Mike Conley Jr.
Related: Mike Conley's Importance To The Minnesota Timberwolves
Conley Is A Big Fan Of Clark's Game
At only 23, Clark is showing potential to be a great defender. He is an awesome defender who loves to be competitive. Clark fights through screens, dives for loose balls, and makes a living annoying his defensive assignment.
Even though he has only played 31 NBA games, Jaylen looks like a natural fit in the league. At 6'5", Clark can defend point guards to small forwards. On offense, he moves well off the ball and has been a good three-point shooter, taking 1.5 attempts a game on a 43.8% clip.
Jaylen Clark has played in 8 career games and I legitimately think there's enough film to say he might be a top-5 perimeter defender in the league
pic.twitter.com/jYJ0CDVLOX
— Timberwolves Talk (@LetsTalk_Wolves) February 4, 2025
Of course, he still needs more reps to become a knockdown shooter. However, the foundation is there for him to be a three-and-D player for the Timberwolves. He would be a fantastic steal for Minnesota because they selected him 53rd overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
When asked about Clark, Conley had nothing but praise for the 23-year-old. He has been impressed with how the rookie has broken out for Minnesota.
"He's been great for us honestly, I don't think we expected him to be as ready as he's been, but he's answered the call," Conley said after practice on Wednesday. " Yes, it's not too normal when you get a guy who hadn't played a game to come in the middle of the year and play at the speed he does, make the right decisions, and affect the game the way he can. It's a testament to who he is,"
Clark Must Keep It Up For His Career
With the way he has impressed everyone in the Timberwolves organization, Clark should have a lengthy career. His two-way contract was upgraded to a regular NBA contract in late February, and he will keep working to become a difference-maker for Minnesota.
The team needs more players like Clark who will do everything they can to get the win. Donte DiVincenzo has been stellar in that role, but having one more hard worker on the wing does not hurt the team.
What a ridiculous steal from Jaylen Clark.
It is so hard to defend and pick a positioning strategy here, between guarding your matchup or looking toward the probing ball handler.
But Jaylen did both. pic.twitter.com/5QXZiB2ar7
— Jonah (@Huncho_Jman) March 22, 2025
Minnesota needs more of a balance with their team, and with a superstar like Anthony Edwards, they will need some role players around him. Clark is a good example of a perfect prototype for a modern-day role player because he works hard, does not complain, and does everything he can for the team.
With coach Chris Finch's trust, Clark should be settled into the team. He will only grow and improve, so Conley is right to be a big believer because he should become a long-term contributor.
Related: Finch Believes The Timberwolves Need To Improve Their Mentality
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 5:11 AM.