 |
| Image from NBA.com. |
Ever since coming into the league in 2014 (he was drafted by Washington before being shipped to the Lakers for cash considerations), Clarkson has been a rising star, and, biases aside, I think he has been the Lakers' most reliable talent this season.
He currently norms 14.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 triples per game for the Purple & Gold. He is second on the team in scoring right behind D'Angelo Russell.
This he has done despite so many wrinkles and uncertainties abounding all around him. You see, Clarkson started his NBA career as a point guard for the Lakers before having to shift to the 2-spot in 2015-2016 when the team drafted Russell. This season, he has had to straddle both guard positions while also being mindful of the fact that guys like Nick Young and Lou Williams, who has since been moved to Houston, need more than their fair share of shot attempts. All while this was going on, Clarkson has been steady, remaining energetic and ever ready to produce for the Lakers.
Thankfully, the native of San Antonio, Texas keeps in mind that he will just go out there and compete every time he step onto the floor. That approach has made some people around him take notice, too, especially head coach Luke Walton, who hopes that Clarkson's shot-selection and decision-making continue to improve as the Lakers try to salvage some measure of pride to end their 2016-2017 campaign.
What I am a little worried about is whether Clarkson, despite his production and can-do attitude, will still be a Laker next season. The Filipino-American, on some level, is at the mercy of his circumstances. It is no secret that the Lakers are looking to rebuild around a bona fide franchise player, and, as talented as some of their young guys are, there is hardly anyone in Los Angeles who strongly believes that any from Clarkson, Russell, Julius Randle, or Brandon Ingram will be the team's cornerstone for the foreseeable future. Instead, the Lakers will probably gamble on trying to lure someone like Jimmy Bulter or Paul George, and that can only happen if LA throws one or more of its young studs into the trading carousel. I seriously doubt if any of the other 29 ball clubs will fancy picking up either Timofey Mozgov's or Luol Deng's contract, which makes Clarkson the most logical choice as trade bait.
In a way, that'll be a tad disappointing, especially considering how many Filipinos live in LA and the great state of California, but, hey, it could actually be the kind of change Clarkson needs to really shine. If he goes to a team much in need of a capable point guard or two-guard, Clarkson can blossom.
You see, the thing I really like about him has really nothing to do about his on-court skills. Rather, like what I've already said, it's Clarkson's mindset that sets him apart. Here is a guy who was drafted behind the likes of Elfrid Payron, Marcu Smart, and Dante Exum in 2014, was dropped to the D-League early on, and yet managed to finish as part of the 2015 NBA All-Rookie First team. What that tells me is that Clarkson has grit that matches if not surpasses his talent, and because grit trumps talent almost every time, Clarkson should be able to thrive practically under any coach, in any system, and on any team.
Because of that, I have to say that, as a guy viewed by may as the Filipinos' ambassador to the NBA, Clarkson has and will continue to rep the Philippines in a very good way.
0 Komentar