Fansided

Jordan Clarkson wants to win Sixth Man but knows Lakers have to improve first

By Ananth Pandian

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 08: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against George Hill #3 of the Sacramento Kings during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 75-69. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 08: Jordan Clarkson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against George Hill #3 of the Sacramento Kings during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 75-69. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

This season’s Los Angeles Lakers team is heavy on potential and even heavier on expectations. They drafted Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, bringing in his immense talent as well as his father and his never-ending stream of boastful claims. However last season’s front office shakeup that brought in Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have also contributed to the Lakers’ rosier outlook.

Expectations aren’t necessarily a bad thing — the Lakers now have a clear path moving forward with Johnson and Pelinka in charge. The Lakers plan is hyper-focused around their young core, and potentially signing one or two marquee free agents in the future thanks to their financial flexibility, to build around that young core.

Having a Hall of Famer like Johnson around has definitely shaped the attitude and focus of this team. Johnson is of course not the coach, but his affable demeanor and willingness to connect with the players has helped to push the team. Already in the few months he’s been there, Johnson has been dispensing advice and giving goals to the Lakers. Johnson told fourth-year guard, Jordan Clarkson, that he wants him to win Sixth Man of the Year.

“I have challenged him because I want him to be Sixth Man of the Year,” Johnson said to participants of Clarkson’s camp back in August. “So I’ve challenged him to play like that.”

Considering that Clarkson averaged 14.7 points last season and provides instant offense off the bench, this would appear to be an attainable goal. Buoyed by the confidence Johnson has instilled in him, and in the spirit of accepting rising expectations individually and collectively, Clarkson has taken up the goal for himself. But Clarkson is a realist and know that if he wants to have individual success, like winning Sixth Man of the Year, the Lakers have to be a winning team — the individual and the collective blend together.

“To be honest with you, all that kind of comes with winning and with me playing at a high level,” Clarkson told FanSided at a recent Dew NBA 3X event in Los Angeles. “ I don’t feel like it’s impossible to do. I can win Sixth Man.”

Clarkson’s confidence in himself is also shared by his teammates.

“I definitely think [Clarkson] has the chance to win,” Lakers forward Julius Randle told FanSided. “Like anything else, he’s going to be in the position to that. We just have to win games to really help his case.”

Team success may have been why Lou Williams didn’t win last year. Williams led the league in scoring off the bench and helped the Houston Rockets finish strong in their playoff push. But since he played half a season with the Lakers, their poor record worked against him and his Houston teammate Eric Gordon ended up winning.

Despite Williams’ failure to win Sixth Man, his contributions off the bench were vital for the Lakers while also helping Clarkson in his own individual development as well. Playing alongside Williams, Clarkson says helped him to be a better playmaker and scorer as he picked up tricks from the veteran guard. Clarkson and Williams were also a big reason why the Lakers had the second-highest scoring bench in the league last season.

“Last season we relied on [our bench] a lot to keep us in games,” Randle says. “There were times, our starting unit didn’t get off to a great start or whatever it may be. But we knew that our bench was coming in and they were would be firing and picking up the pace.”

With Clarkson and rookie Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers once again have a talented scoring duo coming off the bench. Randle may also at times play in the second unit, making the Lakers’ bench even more potent.

Yet while the Lakers could have a talented bench and starting unit, it remains to be seen if Los Angeles has enough to become a winning franchise again this season. The West is loaded with championship contenders and playoffs teams. Plus the Lakers are still a young team and are under coach Luke Walton’s guidance for just the second year. But Clarkson is undeterred.

Next: Breaking down Lonzo Ball's one-pass offense

Clarkson is confident that the Lakers will improve and focus on their collective goal of making the playoffs. And in turn, perhaps Clarkson will be the recipient of the 2017-2018 Kia Sixth Man of the Year award.

“We don’t want to be sitting at home,” Clarkson says. “Definitely taking it one day at a time. We ain’t looking at playoffs right now or anything like that. But that’s a goal that we want to accomplish.”

Home/NBA