Jordan Clarkson has truly been a game-changer for the Utah Jazz since joining the team via trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers last December. The 6-foot-4 scoring specialist has been one of the best reserves in the league all season long, and his Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell gave him his glowing recommendation for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
6th Man of the Year! @JordanClarksons https://t.co/mzz6s4d1Br
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) July 31, 2020
Jordan Clarkson further cemented his claim after giving Utah a huge boost off the bench in their 106-104 comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
After firing blanks early, the 28-year-old Filipino-American guard found his groove in the second half as the Jazz clawed back from double digits. Clarkson finished with a team-high 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Jazz head coach Quinn Snyder kept him in the game in the crucial stretches of the fourth, as he also picked up the slack defensively.
With Bojan Bogdanovic expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a broken wrist, the Jazz will need Clarkson's instant offense more than ever. The Croatian forward was the team's second-leading scorer, tallying 20.2 points a game before his injury.
Clarkson, meanwhile, came in 3rd in scoring for Utah, pitching in 15.8 points on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 35.6 percent from downtown. His scoring capabilities are a great fit alongside Mitchell, allowing opposing defenses to sag off a bit on the young star.
Stats-wise, Clarkson does deserve some consideration for the 6th Man of the Year plum. However, it appears that the Los Angeles Clippers bench duo of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell are the frontrunners for the award.
The Jazz, on the other hand, have had a phenomenal season so far. They currently hold the fourth seed in the crowded Western Conference with a 42-23 slate. There's no doubt Clarkson will indeed be a vital piece for Utah come playoff time.
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