For years, the Los Angeles Lakers have had problems at the point guard position, which has given them a disadvantage when going up against the elite, athletic point guards of the West.
The point guard position hasn’t been at its best for the Lakers, but Kobe Bryant has more than made up for that over the past decade. But Bryant is now nursing what has been his third consecutive season-ending injury. Even when he does return, he still cannot be the best player on a winning team and cannot make up for the loss of production from the point guard slot.
Now, in his absence, the Lakers have found a bright spot in their horrendous season. That twinkle has been rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson.
Clarkson, who was projected to be selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft, fell to 46th overall and was originally drafted by the Washington Wizards. Fortunately for the Lakers, they were able to strike a draft day deal with Washington to acquire him.
The 22-year-old has been nothing but sensational since and is only getting better. Clarkson was the star for the Lakers during the summer league, averaging a team-high 15.8 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Although he did not get much action earlier in the season, Clarkson did not hang his head. Now that an opportunity has opened up for the youngster, he is proving that he could be the floor general for this franchise for years to come.
In five games as a starter, Clarkson has averaged 14.8 points and 2.8 assists. His defense and energy have also been phenomenal.
Certainly there are still plenty of areas where Clarkson could improve on, but there is no denying the potential this young kid has. Clarkson is extremely athletic for his size, has the ability to score and defend athletic guards, and the creativity to finish around the basket.
A couple of his weaknesses include the inability to play make and ball handle at a high level. Also, he will need to build some muscle to matchup against the bigger and stronger point guards of this league, such as Russell Westbrook.
But the upside is definitely there. Over time, Clarkson should also be able to develop I.Q. for the game which could take him to new heights.
Clarkson fits right in with the athletic, scoring point guards we have in the league today. Almost all the traditional point guards have retired, as that position has changed a whole lot over the last four or five years.
It will take some time, but Jordan Clarkson could potentially become an All-Star in this league. The Lakers have definitely struck gold by snatching him on draft night. Clarkson has proven to the league that he was a steal and was deserving of a first-round selection.
For now, patience is required, but Byron Scott and the Lakers at least understand that Clarkson is here to stay. With Julius Randle expected to make a full recovery next season, the Lakers future is bright. Now, all management needs to do is bring in the correct pieces to compliment the two young studs.
As for Kobe Bryant, he could maybe take a back seat to allow Clarkson to grow more, while he mentors him along the way.
We still have over 30 more games remaining to the season, which should give Jordan Clarkson over 30 more games of much needed experience and potential growth.