Jordan Clarkson’s Return From The Pine Pony

I don’t think anyone was more excited about Jordan Clarkson joining the Knicks this summer than I was. I had been hoping they’d bring him in since last season. From day one, Knicks fans understood his role would be coming off the bench, but beyond that, it was unclear how much of an impact he would actually have. We expected some inconsistency, with off nights mixed in with games where he could get hot and take over.

Instead, it never really played out that way early on. Mike Brown used Clarkson sparingly for much of the first half of the season, as he averaged under 20 minutes per game and scored 20 or more just three times through December. The rhythm just never seemed to be there, and it was clear he hadn’t fully carved out a defined role within the rotation.

By mid-January, his role had basically turned into DNPs or the occasional garbage-time minutes. With the arrival of Jose Alvarado, Clarkson’s spot in the rotation became even less consistent heading into early March. During that stretch, he only appeared in about half the games, totaling just over 130 minutes. That left him behind younger and fringe rotation players like Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, and Mohamed Diawara in total minutes, which only added to the uncertainty around where he fit.

Clarkson’s usage during that stretch really highlights how inconsistent things had become. Between early February and early March, his minutes were all over the place, ranging from short stints of 5 to 12 minutes to multiple DNPs. Even when he did get on the floor, the production was hit or miss. He had a few efficient scoring nights, like shooting 5-of-7 and 5-of-8 in back-to-back wins, but those flashes were mixed in with quiet outings where he barely made an impact in limited time.

Things started to shift after the Knicks’ 126–118 loss to the Clippers, their second straight defeat following a loss to the Lakers the night before. In that Clippers game, Clarkson played just three minutes, and it felt like Mike Brown was searching for any kind of spark off the bench. Whether it was the matchup, a sense of urgency, or simply an opportunity, Clarkson responded. With 26 minutes of playing time, his most since Christmas, he delivered one of his best performances of the season with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting against Utah. It was the type of game Knicks fans had been waiting for, a reminder of the scoring punch he can bring when given real opportunity.

Since that performance, Clarkson has settled back into more of a steady bench role over the past five games. He’s still been efficient and playing under control, but the scoring hasn’t reached that same level. He followed up with a solid 14-point performance against Golden State, but outside of that, he’s mostly hovered in the 8 to 10 point range. Against teams like Indiana, Brooklyn, and Washington, he’s contributed in shorter bursts, typically in about 20 to 22 minutes per night.

And maybe that’s enough right now. Since those back-to-back losses in Los Angeles, the Knicks have rattled off six straight wins and are starting to build real momentum at the right time. The offense looks more balanced, the rotations are tightening, but more importantly, they’re winning.