Sixth Man of the Year
He hasn’t started a single game this season, for either the Utah Jazz or the Cleveland Cavaliers. In fact, he hasn’t been a regular starter since his early Los Angeles Lakers days.
But Jordan Clarkson makes a big impact on the game as a scoring punch off the bench. Few teams have a guy as cool and collected as Clarkson playing with the second unit.
The Los Angeles Clippers have two, in Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams. The Oklahoma City Thunder have Dennis Schroeder, but outside of those three players I can’t think of one that’s more capable than JC.
ICYMI, @ringer: My "if the season's already over" Coach of the Year ballot: https://t.co/Sgz24wmh46
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) March 30, 2020
My other awards posts:
MVP: https://t.co/K71a0tZphh
ROY: https://t.co/PD7UxDEyC7
DPOY: https://t.co/9BjinMOgAA
MIP: https://t.co/Nmxe4Y8RYR
6th Man: https://t.co/0VMYYOCRmx
He is so smooth when handling the ball, and can create his own shot in a pinch when a play breaks down or when the shot clock is running out. He was just the medicine the doctor ordered for the Jazz in late December, instantly becoming a top three scorer for the team.
His 15.6 points per game for the Jazz is better than Gobert’s (15.1), and his 3-point shot is money despite the average looking percentage from deep (career 34 percent). And at 27 years old, he is only entering his prime years.
Quin Snyder really likes what he sees out of his fellow Missouri Tigers alumni, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jazz aggressive this offseason to retain Clarkson’s services as he enters unrestricted free agency.
Honorable Mention: Emmanuel Mudiay
I was tempted to put no one, absolutely nobody on this honorable mention. That’s how incapable the Jazz bench is this year. They do fine with Mike Conley acting as playmaker, but not with Joe Ingles.
The one saving grace this year for the bench is Emmanuel Mudiay (more coming on him soon).