Jordan Clarkson Shattering All Projections for His NBA Ceiling

The rest of the league is finally catching on to what Los Angeles Lakers fans have been saying all season: Second-round draft pick Jordan Clarkson is a legitimate NBA talent.

As for any preconceived ceiling, the dust and debris of shattered limits have been cleared off the court, and Clarkson—a 6'5" point guard—is simply working on his game under the NBA's bright lights.

On most nights the Western Conference Rookie of the Month of March is spectacular. But on other occasions he gets schooled like the young prospect he is—having started all of 34 games for a team with a franchise-worst record of 20-57.




And that's just fine. The 22-year-old has been thrown into the fire, and it's how he responds that will ultimately shape the real story of just how good this kid can be.

On Sunday night against Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers, Clarkson got his lunch handed to him. He attempted just six shots and made only one of them in 26 minutes of action, finishing with a paltry two points, four rebounds and three assists in a 106-78 shelling. He was harassed by Paul when he tried to score and spun around six ways to Sunday when CP3 had the ball in his hands.

The challenge wasn't lost on Clarkson or on his coach, Byron Scott, who incidentally coached Paul with the New Orleans Hornets from 2005 to 2009.

"We knew Chris would come in that way, knowing Jordan had been playing extremely well," said Scott, per Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. "CP is one of those guys who likes making statements."

Clarkson, meanwhile, was looking toward Tuesday night's rematch with the Clippers.

"I can definitely redeem myself," Clarkson said, per Medina. "We're going to attack and play aggressively. ... I just got to come back and play better."

And play better he did, with 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting along with six assists and four boa...

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