Jordan Clarkson might not be on the Utah Jazz anymore, but their fans know all too well about the Clarkson experience. After the New York Knicks scooped him up following his buyout, it only took his first preseason game for their fanbase to realize that no how difficult the challenge may be, there isn't a shot Clarkson won't take.
The Knicks played the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA's first preseason game in Abu Dhabi. Clarkson didn't play badly, putting up nine points while shooting four-for-nine from the field. However, Knicks fans got their first taste of what Clarkson brings, warts and all.
Jordan Clarkson doing what he does best... get buckets!
— NBA (@NBA) October 2, 2025
Knicks lead in the 2Q on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/bJt6Ikdg7n
Clarkson can still score, but Knicks fans are now becoming aware of what they signed up for when they signed him.
Jordan Clarkson is absolutely gonna have me wanting him shipped to Tijuana some games, while also having me wanting to retire his jersey other games…you gotta enjoy the ride!
— NBA Jay Knicky (@JayKnicky) October 2, 2025
Jordan Clarkson definitely loves to take shots
— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) October 2, 2025
Jordan Clarkson gonna b the king of “why df he took shot” oh it went in cool this season pic.twitter.com/jQIyiREBuh
— State from Harlem🇬🇭🗽 (@bmorelikestate) October 2, 2025
Jazz fans can't help but laugh at this, as this was basically what they went through for five and a half seasons (and one can argue it shouldn't have lasted that long). Utah granted Clarkson his wish this offseason, where his contributions will go towards helping a winning team. However doing so means he will subject Knicks fans to a roller coaster performance throughout the season.
Sometimes, Clarkson will make them thank their lucky stars they got him, and at others, he will make them want to claw their own eyes out. For as frustrating as Clarkson can be, New York can be comforted by the fact that he only cost them a veteran's minimum.
Clarkson has a solid chance of returning to the NBA Finals
Even if his tenure with the Knicks will have its ups and downs, joining the Knicks gives him perhaps his best chance of returning to the NBA Finals since he made it with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. Granted, he wasn't featured much in their rotation then, but he was part of that team.
More importantly, his Jazz tenure helped him become more of an effective basketball player. At 32, his career is likely to trend downward from here, but he proved last season that he still has some good basketball left in him.
The East is wide open with Boston and Indiana, ie the last two teams represent the conference in the NBA Finals, down for the count. The Knicks made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals and came within two games of making it to the final round.
This might be their best chance, so adding Clarkson should help their odds. If they make it to the NBA Finals, Jazz fans don't necessarily have to root for the former Sixth Man of the Year, but they should be happy for him.