The Utah Jazz didn't have much going for them during the 2024-25 season, but the one upshot to that is they have a solid youth foundation. Jordan Clarkson recognizes this, as he recently gushed about them when asked about what stood out in a good way from the Jazz this season.
Clarkson caught up with Salt Lake Bees sideline reporter Sammy Miller on May 10. Yesterday, he attended his first Bees game since coming to Utah. When asked about the bright spots from the Jazz's season, Clarkson explained why it was the Jazz's youth movement.
"Just seeing all the young guys grow. Isaiah (Collier), Keyonte (George), Brice (Sensabaugh), all those guys. All the young guys continue to grow their game, and continue to further their careers, and continue to develop. So, hopefully we'll get them going into next year and we win some games," Clarkson said.
Welcome Utah Jazz Guard, Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) to our new home!
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 10, 2025
Tune in to hear what position Clarkson would play if he was on the field with the Bees! pic.twitter.com/6H3Pi00SE6
The one knock on the Jazz is that even though they have some young talent, they don't have that franchise cornerstone. The biggest shame from that narrative is that while the Jazz don't have that franchise player, their young players shouldn't be discounted.
Collier looks like he could be the Jazz's starting point guard of the future, Sensabaugh looks like he could be the next Kyle Korver (at minimum!), Kyle Filipowski is on track to become one of the best Jazz draft steals in recent memory. George looks like he might need another year or two, but it wasn't all bad this year!
Even if none of these players wind up going down as being among the best players in franchise history, there's a lot to like about them. Plus, it's awesome that Clarkson thought of them when talking about what he liked about the Jazz this season.
What makes Clarkson's words more impressive
Clarkson said before the season started that he would take more of a mentorship role in Utah, and it's clear that he meant it. That's very impressive all on its own, but that's not what is most impressive about what he says.
His praise for the players who will take his place in the coming years is what is most impressive. All indications are that Clarkson's time in Utah will be up soon. The Jazz have young guards on the roster that appear to be his replacement immediately following his departure, whether that is this offseason or next.
It's further proof of Clarkson's fantastic character. He could be annoyed about the fact that his prime is winding down while playing for a team that doesn't need him and that they have players that will soon usurp him in their rotation, but he's not. He's taking it all in stride, and furthermore, he's giving them confidence when given the opportunity to.
If and when Clarkson's time in Utah is over, his legacy with the team should be celebrated for both his contributions to the Jazz playoff teams he played for and the veteran influence he had on their next batch of young talent.