The New York Knicks are a different team. By history, idiosyncrasy, character… the men from the Big Apple breathe in their own way, and those who play under their crest feel it. That is exactly what Josh Hart speaks about when asked about one of his team-mates, a Jordan Clarkson who at times seems a very minor figure, but who is doing his bit every night.
After three consecutive defeats that raised doubts about the reigning champions, they now have three wins in four games to calm the mood. During this positive run the 34-year-old veteran guard has stepped up. He has not been the top scorer – far from it – but he has been key off the bench despite limited minutes. Hart is grateful because he knows that elsewhere he could shine far more.
“I think it shows his character more than anything. He’s someone who, if he were on a different team, could play 20 or 25 minutes every night and score in double figures. He could be that microwave off the bench. And he’s here. He was willing to sacrifice and take on a smaller role to be part of something bigger than himself. That shows his character,” the forward stressed, in comments gathered by Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Hart comes to the defence of those who have gone so far as to say his Tampa-born team-mate was not contributing enough at the start of the season. The reality is that practically nobody has lived up to expectations, almost suggesting that their heads were still on the June ring.
Jordan Clarkson, a talent for ‘all time’
There is a lot of talk about players who no longer fit in the NBA, about profiles that have been lost, about specialists (for example in the post) who these days would need many other skills to play. Well, Clarkson belongs to a species that has endured and has never lost its place: the microwave who can break open a game from the bench.
In his career he has accumulated 831 regular-season games, starting in only 232. That is exactly what makes him special, because not every player with a talent like his can accept (and even turn into a positive) being typecast as a bench option. Clarkson did so in his day, has his ring with the Knicks and wants to be key in going for another.
(Photo: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
