From being selected 46th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA draft to riding the bench behind journeyman Ronnie Price, there's a bit of good news for Jordan Clarkson as he finally earned the rest of the league's respect after finishing seventh in the Rookie of the Year honors.
According to the latest Los Angeles Lakers news from LA Times, Jordan Clarkson finds himself in a pretty good company with a bunch of first rounders in Nerlens Noel, Elfrid Payton, Marcus Smart, and the landslide winner, Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Although Jordan Clarkson finished the season with averages of 11. 9 points, 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game, the numbers don't tell how impressive the rookie's season has been. When he was pushed into the starting lineup with the injury to Ronnie Price, for example, he averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 38 games.
"Clarkson's votes came from Mike Rice of Comcast SportsNet NW and Scott Hastings of Altitude Sports & Entertainment," LakeShow Life noted. "Gaining praise nationally, versus winning over those who watch you game in, game out seems a higher accomplishment."
Much of the news blogs surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers have been pining for Jordan Clarkson to be included in the NBA all-rookie first team.
Regardless of whether Jordan Clarkson will finish in the first rookie team or the second, the 6-5 point guard will always play with a chip on his shoulder.
"I'm a second-round pick - 46th pick. It's always gonna be on my mind. ... I'm never going to forget draft day," he said.
"It's motivating for me. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to play for this organization in this league. I think I watched the draft maybe like 10 times throughout the year. ... I don't look at it like, 'I should've been drafted there.' Everything happens for a reason," the Los Angeles Lakers rookie added.
