Jordan Clarkson bench scoring milestone at Madison Square Garden
Jordan Clarkson bench scoring reached another marker on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time), when the 34-year-old guard moved into seventh place on the NBA's all-time list during the New York Knicks' 135-105 rout of the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden.
Clarkson passed former Utah Jazz forward Thurl Bailey, who scored 8,695 career points off the bench. Clarkson entered the game with 8,689 bench points and finished with 10, raising his total to 8,699. The ranking covers reserve scoring since the NBA began tracking the statistic in the 1968-69 season, a period whose games survive largely in black-and-white footage.
He shot 4-for-9 from the field, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, in 15 minutes. A week earlier he had scored 18 points in 17 minutes to help New York beat Chicago 133-127.
Mike Brown calls Clarkson the ultimate pro
After Monday's 103-90 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, Knicks coach Mike Brown was asked about Clarkson's fluctuating playing time and answered with something closer to a character reference than a rotation explanation.
"Here you go, you have a veteran that's been there, done that, and he's willing to accept the role that most guys wouldn't accept, even guys younger, and that haven't proved as much as he's proven in this league," Brown said.
Brown pointed to Clarkson's conduct during last season's championship run, particularly his willingness to encourage teammates while his own opportunities were limited.
"He's willing to accept it, and so in my opinion, if he's willing to accept it, which is what he did last year, and still try to uplift everybody and connect everybody while he's going through what he's going through, then everybody else should," Brown said. "That's the ultimate team player."
Brown went further in his endorsement of the guard known around the team as J.C.
"I will say this about J.C. I've been around some good teammates. You know, when it comes to players, he's got to be the best. He's got to be the best. He's the definition of ultimate pro."
Clarkson says the goal is winning, not minutes
Clarkson learned of the comments after Tuesday's practice and accepted the praise without turning the conversation into a story about himself.
"I mean, that's a great compliment," Clarkson said. "Especially, like you said, he's been around a lot of guys and a lot of players and been on great teams."
He returned quickly to the reason he accepted the role in the first place. "I'm just here to try to support the group," Clarkson said. "And we're here for one goal, and that's to win."
He also credited Brown for keeping him engaged regardless of how much playing time was available. "Him having confidence in me to be able to go out there and help the team and impact the game is big time," Clarkson said. "I know he knows I'm always ready, and my teammates know that I'm always ready and going to try to bring energy."
Brunson's fast start and a deep Knicks bench
Jalen Brunson scored 33 points, including 22 in the opening quarter, when he single-handedly outscored Chicago 22-21. The Knicks erupted for 84 first-half points, matching a franchise record set on Nov. 18, 1988.
New York's reserves contributed 53 points. Clarkson and Dalton Knecht scored 10 apiece, and Knecht grabbed seven rebounds in his Knicks debut. New York improved to 4-4, winning four of its last five games after an 0-3 start.
Analysis: a scorer learning to wait
Clarkson built his reputation as an offensive spark plug with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers before blossoming into one of the league's premier reserves in Utah, where he won the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year award. With Gilas Pilipinas he carried a heavier load, including 34 points against China at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Joining a roster built around Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns changed the terms. Last season New York captured its first championship in 53 years, beating the San Antonio Spurs in five games, and Clarkson became the first NBA player of Filipino heritage to win a title; he carried the Philippine flag during the Knicks' title festivities.
The milestone and the role are two different measures of the same career. One is arithmetic, tracked since 1968-69; the other is the willingness to stay ready for whatever minutes Brown offers on a given night.
This report is based on the original article from philstar.com.
