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Jordan Clarkson paid tribute to the Philippines during the New York Knicks' championship parade. In a video posted by the Knicks, Clarkson was seen proudly carrying the Philippine flag as he joined the celebration. Clarkson, who represented the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2023 FIBA World Cup, is the grandson of Filipina Marcelina Tullao Kingsolver of Pampanga.
OG Anunoby does not drink. Correction: Anunoby did not drink. Then the New York Knicks won the NBA Finals. And for a few seconds, he drank. The locker room was already in hysteria, players drenched in champagne and beer as 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” blasted on the speakers. Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Clarkson were the only two players with anything short of a chaotic vibe. Robinson sat at his locker bobbing his head to the music, more likely than not thinking about the F150 he submitted to the Atlantic City Truck Meet, which he will attend Sunday. If he wins “best interior” once again (two of his other trucks have already won that award), then he will, as he so eloquently proclaimed, “Get f—– up!”
Jordan Clarkson has made Philippine basketball history. Clarkson became the first NBA player with Filipino descent to win a championship in the NBA, after the New York Knicks clinched the coveted title on Sunday (Manila time). The Knicks hacked out a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Finals at the Frost Bank Center in Texas.
Wagner alumnus Jordan Clarkson has vivid memories of the "amazing energy" that reverberated throughout San Antonio during the Spurs' Tim Duncan-led championship years. "My stepmom worked at the Westin, so I would see the parades through the hotel balconies," he said. "I would sneak around there at the hotel, with (the opposing teams) staying there, being able to take pictures and run up on players for autographs. I was definitely that kid, seeing that energy and how alive this city comes when the Spurs are in the Finals and winning championships." But the New York Knicks guard will do everything in his power to make sure the championship parade after the 2026 NBA Finals weaves through the streets of Manhattan and not along San Antonio's Riverwalk.
Yes, he scored 27 points in 26 minutes en route to a Knicks comeback win. That’s the old Jordan Clarkson. However, he also had five offensive rebounds and played suffocating defense. Those weren’t qualities observers attached to the veteran before this night. This is the player Clarkson is today — gritty, tough and a master of the little things. It’s that mindset that didn’t allow him to consider moving on from New York when he was stuck at the end of the bench. “Never,” Clarkson said. “I was just going with the flow, staying locked in. I don’t really think too far ahead. Whatever is in the moment is what’s going on. “I got out the mud, bro. I was a second-round pick, damn near undrafted. I just stick with the grind and stick with the process, try to find ways to impact the game. I only care about winning. I came here for the opportunity to play winning basketball.”
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Brown prefers to sit both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns for the starts of the second and fourth quarters rather than stagger them and have one on the court. The lineup he uses instead — with Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson and Mitchell Robinson on the floor — struggled in the Knicks’ 107-106 Game 2 loss to the Hawks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. “We’ve played that lineup quite a bit at the end of the season,” Brown said. “That lineup’s been pretty good. We weren’t good tonight and we turned the ball over a few too many times during that period. But we had opportunities where our starters were in, and we were up eight to 10 [points] and Atlanta closed it. So I wouldn’t just say that specific lineup caused it.”
Mike Vorkunov: Mikal Bridges came out of tonight's Knicks game after 23 seconds, so he nominally extends his consecutive games streak to 638. Jordan Clarkson was walking to the scorer's table to sub in right at tip off and Deuce McBridge intentionally fouled a Hornet to stop the clock. Game 82, it's FANtastic!
Out of the Knicks rotation for most of the last seven weeks, the reserve guard returned to his old home and put on a show, scoring a season-high 27 points off the bench to help the Knicks recover from an 18-point deficit and avoid an ugly defeat to the tanktastic Jazz, 134-117. Clarkson, who spent 5 ½ seasons with the Jazz, got a video tribute at the Delta Center and proceeded to take the fans on a trip down memory lane, flashing the microwave scoring that won him the Sixth Man of the Year here in 2021. “I spent six years in this arena so the rims are pretty familiar to me,” Clarkson said. “It’s not the first time I’ve been hot in this arena. “Just being able to start the flame and keep it going.”
He should get a warm welcome from the Salt Lake City fans Wednesday, however many show up (tickets on the secondary market cost as low as $10). “That’s a home for me. I loved the organization. I love the coaching staff. Yeah, I love the city. All I had was love there,” Clarkson said. “So going back, I don’t know what my emotions are going to be. I’m going to try to keep my cool in terms of not feeling [emotional], just all the gratitude and everything that the city is giving me. But yeah, I don’t know how I’m going to feel yet.”
Mike said because of your experience that there’s a lot of different perspective you can offer. What’s been the different things you’ve tried to offer? Jordan Clarkson: “It’s from experience and from watching. Sometimes, I might not be able to do some stuff that other players can do on the court, whether it’s defensively or offensively. So I just let them hear what I’m seeing from my perspective of the game and what I see [on the court]. I’m trying to help with trying to make adjustments to help win.”
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Mike made it clear it’s just the rotation and trying to figure out minutes for everyone, and it’s not like you’re doing anything wrong specifically. But given your body of work and competitive nature, how do you wrestle with all of that stuff? Jordan Clarkson: “I just stay ready. I get paid to be a hooper. So I wake up in the morning, go shoot, play 5-on-5, whoever it is. Coach, our media guy Derek [Lapinski], if he wants to get ones, I’ll bust his, too. (laughs). Our security, if they want to get their ass busted, I can give it to everybody (laughs).”
You played both with LeBron [James] and Kobe. Kobe played for 20 years. LeBron is on year 23. What jumped out to you on what they did to play that long? Jordan Clarkson: “Both of them were constantly working. They’re staying in the gym. Those dudes are always the first ones there. They’re staying after, getting shots, and working on their bodies. They’re in the cold tub, in the hot tub, getting stretched, massages. It’s all the little things that play a part in everything. Those dudes were meticulous to the smallest details. It shows how long both of those dudes can play.”
Jason Williams on Jared McCain: How many folks you’ve seen out there with painted nails look fluid? Let's be real. Q. There's Jordan Clarkson. Williams: I got nothing against buddy. I just ain't he doing too much extra and ain't doing what he's supposed to do. Q. But he stopped, he like really slowed down the TikTok sh*t this year and he got worse. Williams: But that's what he's known for. He ain't known for the three-point shooting. He ain't known for nothing about basketball. He’s known for TikToks and white fingernails.
Jason Williams: 30 general managers will take Landry Shamet over Jared McCain. Q. Landry Shamet’s a vet though. Williams: Every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I'm just saying Landry Shamet’s name because you used him earlier. And Jared McCain must not be able to play. Why would the Sixers give up on him like that?
