If you know LeagueFits, you know that Jordan Clarkson has been doing this for a minute. The Utah Jazz point guard has influenced players in the NBA and WNBA, college and high school, and plain old casual fans of the game worldwide. 

We sat down with the perennial LeagueFits All-Star to get his thoughts on how NBA fashion has evolved, where he gets his unique pieces and what’s next.

LEAGUEFITS: When you joined the League, fit pics as we know them were just becoming a thing for the first time. You had the kilt, which was one of the first-ever internet viral looks from the basketball world. The LeagueFits Era [of NBA fashion] is really just the internet era, right? How has the NBA fashion scene evolved in your eyes since you were drafted? 

JORDAN CLARKSON: I think it’s just a lot more attention paid to it. Guys have been, you know, putting on different stuff, different looks and illustrating their own vibe when they come to the arena. Like you said, with the internet and these outlets that are covering the NBA, it’s like…I’ll never say I’m the first one to do something, because I think guys have been legendary through this whole period. You look at guys like Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan—who’s, like, iconic to me—I say that a lot of times when I speak on lifestyle because that was him. Dennis Rodman, like, all down the line, but [the internet] was the turning point for us because I feel like everybody is paying attention to what they’re wearing and how they come to the game now. 

LF: In that early era of LeagueFits, there were, like, 25 guys who dressed. When we did our end of season awards, only, like, 10 cool guys were getting left off. Now, everyone is dressing up and it’s impossible to pick these awards. You have 12th men on rosters who are LeagueFits regulars knowing they will get attention. In your early days with the Lakers and Cavaliers, the attention and media wasn’t quite there yet. Why were you dressing up? 

JC: My thing was, I just always wanted to be fresh. I’ve been this way since I was a kid, just always trying to be the first to wear something different, finding a way to express myself in my love for fashion and clothes. That’s been there forever. So I think I came into this organically…I’m really what I’m about, and that’s looking fresh, looking clean. That’s why people, I think, sh-t, I think that’s why a lot of people are f-cking with me, because it’s organic, honestly. 

LF: So it started from a point that’s lowkey kinda wholesome, but now, it’s grown so much, right? You have endorsement deals. You’re going to Fashion Week. Brands are paying you to wear pieces. Was there a moment when you realized that not only did you care about what you were wearing, but a lot of other people did, too? 

JC: I would say after Paris Fashion Week. For me, that was super eye opening. 

LF: Your first? 

JC: It was right after Covid had ended [2022] and I went to [Paris] Fashion Week. I had done Milan before, but yeah, the first time I went to Paris, I was just, like, “This is crazy.” I didn’t personally think that people f-cked with what I was doing to that point of everybody just f-cking with me. So I thought it was cool. That was my first time seeing it. People cared about what I had on. Now I know people are paying attention. So, you know, I’ll never be trying to get caught slipping on my fits, that’s for sure. 

LF: That wasn’t that long ago. You had been going viral for years. What was it specifically in Paris that made you realize fashion wasn’t just a hobby but something bigger? 

JC: It was being with designers. I sat down after the John Elliott show—[I’ve] been cool with John Elliott for a long time, but just getting a chance to talk to him was next level, and seeing his process, how he did his runway show. It was a love of the art, seeing how deep it goes and [it] made me have better insight and gave me more reason to love it and go out there and do my stuff. 

LF: I’ve always wanted to ask about this. The first viral moment in LeagueFits history was when y’all pulled up in the Thom Browne suits [the 2018 NBA postseason]. I feel like it was the moment that introduced a lot of casual fans to NBA fashion. Everyone had the same suit, but a lot of you put your own twists on them. How did that happen? 

JC: So we have Bron and K-Love and got everybody together and they were doing the suit thing, got the custom suits from Thom Browne. We would all have a set we wore to each game, and when we got to The Finals, we were wearing the same suit. I was like, “Man, let’s switch it up. We are on the West Coast. Like, I’mma just cut my pants, is that cool?” But I’m still going to wear the suit because I didn’t want to make it too different from the team. Next thing you know, Bron cuts his [shorts], everyone starts cutting theirs. 

LF: So you were the first one to cut [the suit pants into shorts] then?

JC: [Laughs] Yeah, yeah. 

I’m really what I’m about, and that’s looking fresh, looking clean. That’s why people, I think, sh-t, I think that’s why a lot of people are f-cking with me, because it’s organic, honestly. 

LF: Did you realize it was a big moment as it was happening? 

JC: Nah, I feel like, when you’re in it, you don’t really know what’s really going on, especially during the playoffs. But after it all, I saw the media coverage and everything that was going on, it was pretty dope for sure. 

LF: You’ve been doing this for basically the entirety of the LeagueFits and internet era. I won’t say names, but there are a lot of guys who have been in your position, and they’ve flamed out of the fashion stuff a bit. They’ve hit a wall. Planning 82+ outfits a year at minimum plus Fashion Weeks and other events created burnout. That hasn’t been the case for you. 

JC: I can’t stop myself from doing it. I’m organically doing this. Like you said, on an NBA team, you now have 15 guys coming in fresh. But me, I’ve been doing it a long time. This is just me. This is who I am. I don’t care if I’m going to the grocery store, I’m putting something on like if I were getting photographed. If I went to CVS or Walgreens to get a bag of chips, or a corner store, I’m in something. Even when I’m wearing sweats, majority of the time, they might be different than what your normal sweats are. I’ll cut them in a different way, just trying to make something out of nothing.

LF: You realize that’s unique, right? Like, even guys with stylists who are dressing up all the time, they take the occasional day off to wear team-issued gear or whatever. 

JC: Yeah, yeah. That’s just me. I just do it because it’s me going somewhere. I change three, four times a day and forget. “Oh man, baby, let me try this. I’m going to throw this jacket on.” My boys know I keep clothes everywhere. There’s clothes in my trunk, my whole house is a closet. I don’t have a little area sectioned out, clothes is everywhere. 

LF: Your collection has got to be in the hundreds or thousands. How are you getting all this stuff?

JC: I’m always looking for different brands, designers, seeing how they make pieces different than others. This is art at the end of the day. I don’t scroll on Instagram…I’m scrolling through people’s sites and seeing what they have. 

LF: So you’re saying the way people casually scroll social media on their phone, it’s the same for you, except you’re scrolling, like, retail sites? 

JC: Yeah, I’m for sure on Grailed, just seeing what people are seeing or what people are reselling stuff for. Like, seeing if somebody’s selling something for the low, just trying to get off of it, I’m like, “Oh man, that’s kind of fresh.”

LF: Do sellers on Grailed know they’re interacting with Jordan Clarkson?

JC: Yeah, they do. Sometimes they hit me up, like “Yo, we about to send you some more stuff,” and I’m like, “Alright, that’s cool.” 

LF: Do you have any pieces that you had to take a tough route to get, something that was tougher than liking a mannequin’s look at H Lorenzo?

JC: It’s my [Marithé + François] Girbaud jeans. I found those on Grailed, for, like, $20. I was trying to find Girbaud jeans for the longest, and I was waiting because people were selling them for crazy prices on Grailed. Then I saw one that was right there, and I was like, “Nah, no way you’re selling them for this cheap,” and just snagged them. Snagged ’em. Got two pairs now. 

LF: I’ve seen your closet in San Antonio, and it was insane, and I know that was just a sneak peek. I haven’t seen Utah, the trunks of your cars, etc. Some guys wear things once and that’s it, but you’re not afraid to wear pieces you love. Like, I know exactly which Girbaud jeans you’re talking about. So you have pieces you get attached to and aren’t afraid to wear over and over?

JC: Yeah, for real. I’m the king of recycling. I’m gonna get a cool 100 different looks off this one jacket, pants, whatever it is. I’m able to piece different things together. People go, like, full designer, and I throw in vintage pieces with it, switch it up. And like you said, I do get attached to pieces. Right now, I’m super attached to my Balenciaga bomber with the hoodie stitched in. I’ve worn that for like two years still, and I switch it up with so much different stuff, I don’t even think people notice it. 

LF: I’ve noticed it, but I guess that’s my job to notice it. 

JC: [Laughs] Right! 

LF: You’ve done Paris, Milan and New York Fashion Weeks. You have hundreds of tunnel pictures, millions of likes, big endorsement deals. Have you beaten the game? Or is something up next? 

JC: My own brand. It’s called Seventy-Eight Studios. Seventy-eight is the address of the street I grew up on. As the owner and creative director, I’m super hands-on with [the brand], we’ve been working on it for three years now, you know, finding the factories, putting my foot in that door, understanding what it is to make a brand and have these clothes. It’s a lot tougher than people think. I’m on phone calls, random texts late at night with people that are going to the factory the next day. I’m all the way locked into it. I’m always changing something, looking for something new to put in. Like, we ain’t only just doing clothes. We’re getting into furniture stuff, different every-day stuff. There’s pottery, different creative stuff that’ll fall under Seventy-Eight Studios. 

We took pictures with some of the stuff we’re gonna have coming out soon, so that’s probably my biggest focus in terms of clothes: giving people a product that’s for me and a brand that’s for me…I love who I work with, but being able to curate my own brand, design, that’s the next step. 

Portraits Jalin “Hype” Morgan

Assisted by Bryan Chow 

Creative by Jordan Clarkson and SeventyEightKen 

The post Jordan Clarkson Talks NBA Fashion, Wearing Thom Browne Suit Shorts (First) and Starting Seventy-Eight Studios appeared first on SLAM.

The song choice is almost too good for this moment. Clarkson, who, per our sources, actually styles himself, is a rock star in his own way, from popping out at New York Fashion Week in the fall to arriving this season ready to really turn things up and average new career-highs. As he poses for his first-ever SLAM cover wearing his Utah Jazz City Edition jersey and rockin’ a black gel manicure, his All-Star teammate, Lauri Markkanen, asks for his thoughts on how he should style his jersey. 

“Gotta have it untucked,” Clarkson says. 

SLAM 243 featuring Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson is out now. Shop here.

While Clarkson and Markkanen might seem different—Markkanen was born and raised in Finland and turns 26 in May, while Clarkson is from down South, raised in Texas, and a few years older (he turns 31 in June)—they actually have a lot in common. They’re both fathers and both born under the Gemini sign, which is Latin for “twins,” for the two stars that make up its constellation. This season, the Jazz’s two leading scorers are shining brighter than ever: Markkanen is averaging a career-high 25.7 ppg and was just named an All-Star for the first time, while Clarkson has significantly improved as a playmaker and is putting up a career-high 20.8 points and 4.4 assists per contest. They’ve gone from being parts of trades—Clarkson was sent to the Jazz in 2019 after stints in L.A. and Cleveland, while Markkanen was a part of a blockbuster trade this past summer after four years in Chicago and a year in The Land—to becoming two key pieces of a franchise on the rebuild.

“Confidence is everything in this League,” Markkanen says. “In life, in general. It makes everything so much easier when you believe in yourself—what you’re doing—but it goes to your teammates as well. On the court, for example, going [into] every shot, knowing that my teammates believe that I’m going to knock it down. I think it’s just everything in this building. We all believe in each other, and I think that’s really helping us build something bigger than ourselves.”

While JC and Markkanen describe themselves as chill—as Clarkson takes photos, Markkanen chats about taking his family bowling for the first time and wanting to make time for them in between traveling—they’re equally as perceptive when it comes to the future of the organization. They know it’s not just on them, or about them. They’ve got an entire squad behind them, too.

“Everybody is hungry,” Clarkson later adds. “We’ve got a bunch of young guys who are willing to prove themselves, coming in here to work. That’s like a foundation point of anything.” 

Just a few days after our shoot, the Jazz went out and showed how promising their future can be with a big win against Boston, in which Markkanen scored 28. Even as he and JC sat out against Sacramento, the rest of the team held it down, with Kelly Olynyk notching his second straight double-double and rookies Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji, who impressed with a 27-piece, shining. 

“We’ve got big goals for ourselves. Obviously it is a process, but we’re not trying to fast forward a little bit as well [in] trying to build a winning culture,” he says. “…For everybody, the end goal is to win a championship. While we’re having a good time as a team, I don’t think that’s why we’re here. I don’t think we’re here just to have a good time. We’re trying to win games and play meaningful games. That’s what we’re working toward.” 

There are guys who have been exactly where the Jazz are working to get to. Even Juan Toscano-Anderson, who just joined the team after a trade sent him to Utah in February, won a championship with the Warriors just last year. JC has been to the playoffs four times throughout his career. What he’s learned from playing with LeBron and Kobe is that in those moments, good or bad, you have to just keep it pushing. 

“It goes with the territory,” Clarkson later adds. “The biggest thing is that you wake up and the sun comes out the next day. You put your shoes back on, tie ’em up and figure it out. All of this is a part of the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs. The roller coaster ain’t no fun unless it makes loops.”

Back in 2018, JC was a 25-year-old with a low-top cut, learning those lessons firsthand in Cleveland. He made his first playoff appearance, and at the time, everything was “eye-opening.” The play calls. The level of communication. The Cavs went seven games against Indiana, swept Toronto and then went seven more against Boston to get to the Finals. Clarkson was trying to get up to speed as quickly as he could, but admits now that he didn’t feel as prepared as he thought he needed to be. 

The Cavs ended up losing to the Warriors in four games in the Finals. Clarkson didn’t hit the floor in either of the last two matchups. 

“Trying to get up to speed in a time where I’d never been in that situation was pretty crazy,” Clarkson says. “I kind of take it as a learning experience for me and just kept pushing and pushing, and now we’re in a position [where I’ve] played in the playoffs the last three, four years, have produced and we’ve won games—not where we wanted to be in the end goal but, I think I’ve made progress in that sense and being in a position now where we’re winning games and we’re trying to lead guys as well.”

As someone who prefers to live in the present, Clarkson has been able to dial in and prove the narrative wrong that his game is one-dimensional and he’s limited to just scoring wrong. He’s emerged as a playmaker who can dish no-look passes to Markkanen and orchestrate an offense. “The biggest thing is calm down. Not try to do too much and let plays happen,” he explains. “A lot of times, aggressiveness turns into bad things, so just being able to find yourself in those moments and being able to reel yourself in with a snowball effect…Knowing that I am an older guy now, I’ve been in the League for a while, [so], just trying to knock those moments down and just help the team. 

Is that what he’d tell his younger self? 

“Oh yeah, for sure. I’m probably talking to myself right now,” Clarkson says.

Both literally and figuratively, JC has really been climbing his way throughout his career, and since he arrived in Utah, he’s also been exploring what the city has to offer. He’s hiked the Living Room Trail, visited the hot springs and traveled even further south to see the canyons. “I just kind of get lost up there,” he says. “I know a few times, we’ve been up there when it was dark—figured out that’s not our cup of tea.” 

Utah has been a turning point for Markkanen, too. While he hasn’t had much time to really see Salt Lake City like that—he was playing for Finland in the EuroBasket this summer when the trade went down—he felt a “mental shift” from the minute he touched down in the city for training camp. 

“Getting traded, first of all, and then arriving here, I think just kind of flipped the switch in my mindset,” he says. “I thought I did everything I was asked to a year ago, and then to see the business side of basketball and still get traded. I kind of go out there and try to play my best every night. That really motivated me as well.” 

When asked how he’s managed to make such a massive leap within just a year, Markkanen admits that he’s always had the individual goal of wanting to become an All-Star. But to actually make that happen, he gives credit to his support system. “Coach [Will] Hardy has been doing a great job in just empowering the whole team and trying to play everybody [to] their strengths,” Markkanen explains. “And so, we’re all working toward a bigger goal, and it’s been a big part of why I’ve been able to do that—just getting the help and watching film, and again, back to that teammate thing, I’m not doing it by myself. A lot of my scoring, for example, is assisted baskets. They’re coming off my teammate’s passes, so they’ve been finding me, giving me good looks, and then I just gotta be able to knock them down. So I always give the biggest credit to my teammates and coaches.”

Clarkson is quick to show him love right back. “This year, as a player, seeing what the defenses are throwing at him and how he’s adjusting has been amazing,” he says, when asked about Markkanen’s growth. “It’s one of those things [where]—I’ve been around stars, major stars. Bron, Kobe. Seeing Don [Donovan Mitchell] last year as a young star. Seeing [Lauri] come into his own as a star, it’s been amazing.” 

Regardless of what the outcome of this season is, there’s power in Clarkson, Markkanen and the whole team keeping everything in perspective. To move up in the Western Conference standings, and solidify themselves as playoff contenders, they’ll have to keep that same energy, and keep it pushing. 

“I know it sounds crazy, but stick with the process,” Clarkson tells Markkanen. “The biggest thing you can always say: it’s never a failure, it’s just a learning experience. Next time, I know how you are, how you get to work. You ’gon figure it out. Next time that happens, he’s ’gon be prepared for it.”

SLAM 243 is also available in this exclusive Gold Metal Edition and Cover Tee.

Portraits by Marcus Stevens.

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Its name is a nod to the neighbor-y, community-driven aura it provides visitors—a time travel-like, nostalgic experience from the moment they enter. 

The Provo spot has already drawn plenty of high-profile names, including Clarkson, Sexton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Royce O’Neale, to name a few. Clarkson randomly messaged them one day on social media and has been a loyal customer ever since. He recently scooped up a rare Jeff Hamilton All-Star Weekend jacket. 

“Thrifthood actually all happened by mistake. Myself and Alby [Alan Bostrom], the other co-owner…we were just friends who loved to get together, like, to do game night hosting, whatever, for fun with our friends,” says Krysten “Sissy” McDade of how it all originated. “And we also love fashion and somehow stumbled upon getting fits together and reselling and all these things. And it literally was just supposed to be for fun, and suddenly we’re like, Let’s just sell and see if we can make money to shoot ourselves a new pair of shoes, to whatever we wanted, really. And literally since that day in 2018 when we started, we never stopped, and so we actually sold out of a basement for seven months.”

After seven months of that basement, Thrifthood made the transition to a storefront, and like the  saying goes, the rest was indeed history. 

“The day that we opened the storefront, we had $22 in our business bank account, and we were like, This better work, let’s just make sure we can pay for rent month to month,’” says Sissy, who also credits partner Aaron and store manager Warren for the success. “And then slowly but surely our team started coming together.”   

It more than just came together; it’s now high on the to-do list of every hoops fan visiting the state this All-Star Weekend. 

Photos via Thrifthood.

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“After one of the natural disasters they had over there, I saw a picture where it’s flooded and kids are still playing basketball with the hoop still standing,” he said to NBA.com. “Just showing love for the game over there and how pivotal basketball is, how far it stretches. It’s crazy then just seeing the support I have from the Philippines.”

Clarkson, whose mother is of Filipino descent, recently told the Philippines media that it was important to him to represent the country at this year’s All-Star event in Salt Lake City. “I know in the West they’ve got a lot of talented guards,” he said to ESPN. “But I feel like I can represent Utah, the Philippines at the All-Star Game, if it happens. It would be exciting if that happens.”

Whether he’s selected or not, Clarkson has been having quite the year so far, from putting up career-high numbers—21.1 points and 4.3 assists—to embracing his role as an experienced guard. Having played with and learned from the likes of King James, the Black Mamba and Lou Williams, JC knows firsthand what stepping up as a leader looks like, too, telling NBA.com: “Being around Kobe and Bron, there’s been [lots] of vets I’ve been around in the NBA, you know. Lou Williams, guys like that. It’s kinda pushing me to a leadership role in my ninth year in the League. Just seeing how they handled it and kinda doing the same.” 

After getting traded to the Jazz from Cleveland, Clarkson has found all the support he needs to thrive. “The trade was definitely a lot to take in. I didn’t know what to expect,” Clarkson told The Athletic back in 2021. “But when I got here, the team, the coaching staff, the city and the fans, they welcomed me with open arms. The Jazz showed they invested with me and made me feel comfortable. I feel free here.” 

It’s that freedom that has allowed Clarkson to remain true to himself. As head coach Will Hardy recently emphasized to Andscape, Clarkson is “a very creative player, and he sees the game in a unique way sometimes. And I have to give him the latitude to be himself out there because when he plays freely, he plays with his instincts, he’s at his best. He’s a guy that I definitely don’t want to put in too narrow of a lane because of his ability to impact the game in a lot of ways. Off the court, he is as fun-loving and easy going, engaging a person as I’ve been around in the NBA.”

Clarkson is undeniably one of the most unique and stylish players in the League, from his painted nails and his appearances at Paris Fashion Week to his eternal presence on @LeagueFits. Regardless of what other people might think, Clarkson has always remained true to himself. “Everybody around the League knows who I am and respects it,” he told Marc J. Spears.

What many have also come to respect is Clarkson’s commitment to the grind. The 46th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft has come a long way from playing on the then-Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA Development League his rookie year. And he was just coming off the bench a year ago. He’s now a solidified starter, second on the team in scoring, and, as Hardy pointed out after the Jazz’s win against the Cavaliers, can make “some big plays.”

Even when Donovan Mitchell made his well-awaited return to the Beehive State on January 10, it was Clarkson who stole the show. But anyone who saw his tunnel fit that night already knew what type of time he was on. Clarkson pulled up wearing a black graphic tee from his brand, Shop Sixx, that has a printed skull in the middle and icy blue lettering spelling out his name. 

Many fans will recognize Clarkson’s sartorial side; he once told @LeagueFits, “When I take a night off from dressing, I think I go 0-20 and it ain’t a good look.” Well, that night against Spida and the Cavaliers, he went 11-19 from the field and erupted for 32 points in the win. 

Clearly, Clarkson isn’t taking any time off soon.

And as the Jazz look to continue their climb up the NBA standings—as we go to press, they’re
No. 8 in the West—they’ll look to Clarkson for his leadership, energy and the unwavering passion he brings to everything he does on and off the court. 

“His ability to kind of reform himself, reshape himself around that idea is leadership in itself,” said teammate Mike Conley, according to KSL.com. “And he’s been awesome.”  

He’s also got a dedicated fan base rooting for him, one that extends 7,400+ miles from Utah to the Philippines. Clarkson has said he plans on suiting up for the Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup next summer, too. 

But until then, he has business to handle at home. 

Photos via Getty Images

The post Jordan Clarkson Has Brought His Game, and Tunnel Fits, to Another Level in Utah appeared first on SLAM.

As of Thursday, Clarkson averages 20.7 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.9 percent from beyond the arc. Utah (21-23) is also in ninth place and is a prime candidate to play in the play-in tournament. With Clarkson leading Utah into a possible postseason appearance, it’s likely he will receive a big payday for his efforts.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, Clarkson could reportedly choose to decline the $14.3 million player option he has and become an unrestricted free agent. Free agency may be his best choice due to CBA rules preventing Utah from offering Clakrson a contract extension in his preferred range of $20 million per season.

Clarkson is in the prime of his career and is bonafide playoff threat after averaging 17.3 points per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field over his last three postseasons. At 30-years-old, Clarkson can be a primetime scorer off the bench capable of carrying teams to wins when it matters the most.

Utah is set to host the Magic on Friday.

The post REPORT: Jordan Clarkson Likely to Hit Unrestricted Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson understood the assignment and went off for a season-high 39 points in the gritty OT thriller. Clarkson shot 15-of-26 from the field to go along with a season-high eight rebounds and seven threes too.

After the game, Clarkson was asked what it was like to be in a zone, to which he replied:

“It feels good definitely, get the shot going, moving the ball. I think the big thing for us we just kept playing. Even though I was hot, we wasn’t forcing the ball to me. We were just playing together, moving the ball, and making shots, that’s it.”

Clarkson was then asked about the teams clutchness and how they responded in overtime.

“Just big plays at the end. We all grinding, we all hungry, so when it comes down to those clutch moments we just try to make big shots.”

Clarkson went on to credit teammates Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, and Malik Beasley for their performances not only in the game, but throughout the season so far as well.

The post ‘We All Grinding’: Jordan Clarkson Drops a Season-High 39 Points in Jazz OT Win appeared first on SLAM.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Conley will be out for at least two weeks.

Sources: Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley Jr. avoided major injury or ligament damage on the non-contact left knee injury suffered Saturday night. He has a knee strain and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 20, 2022

If it’s one thing that the Jazz are going to miss with Conley out, it’s definitely going to be his ability to create shots for this young team.

Despite the 35-year-old nearing the end of his magnificent career, it is actually now where he is averaging a career-high in assists with 7.9 dimes a contest, along with 10.2 points. With a record of 12-6, the Jazz does not have a lot of breathing room between them and the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are second in the Western Conference and are only a game behind Utah. 

The situation calls for Jazz guards Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton to step up. Expect the two to have more playmaking responsibilities with Conley out. Clarkson is averaging 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds this season. As for Sexton, he’s putting up 13.1 points and 1.9 assists for the campaign.

Next up, the Jazz will be back at it again tonight at 10:30 P.M when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

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They were again led by great perimeter play, Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, and Collin Sexton kicked in 22 points from the bench. The Jazz was up by double digits early in the first half, but they blew the lead and had to rally after trailing for much of the third and fourth quarters. 

After a blistering shooting performance on Friday to take down the Los Angeles Lakers, the Jazz had to reach deeper to gut out last night’s win and complete the Los Angeles sweep. The Jazz turned over the ball a whopping 20 times in their victory, but they outscored the Clippers 26-17 in the fourth quarter. 

“Finding ways to win is fun,” Coach Will Hardy said following the game, per ESPN. “I’m very proud of the team to overcome 20 turnovers.” 

The Jazz is the second seed in the Western Conference despite most of the “experts” projecting them to be a bottom-tier team in the league. The Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell (Cavs) and Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves) this summer and are supposed to be starting their rebuild. The draft assets the Jazz got in return: Lauri Markanen, Sexton, Malik Beasley, Walker Kessler, and Kelly Olynk said not so fast.

“I’m starting to get more comfortable in myself,” Sexton said after the game. “Just staying ready and being present throughout the game.” 

Sexton had the game-sealing dunk when the Jazz was up by 4 with 54 seconds left. Clarkson could be seen cheering from the bench. The Jazz has surpassed all expectations of what was projected to be a down year. Whether or not they can maintain this level of play remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Utah is a lot of f****ing fun. 

The Jazz plays the Lakers on Monday at 10:15 PM EST.    

The post As They Rebuild, the Utah Jazz Are Now 8-3 and A Lot of Fun to Watch appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson finished with a season-high 30 points in a 116-98 victory on the road while shooting 52.6 percent from the field. After the game, Clarkson said his teammates had been encouraging him to keep shooting the basketball and he made sure to express his appreciation for them, as well as the Jazz coaching staff and franchise for their support.

“Everybody just coming up to me and saying, ‘J.C., keep shooting, keep shooting. It’s gonna happen,'” Clarkson said per Yahoo! News. “That’s why I love this team. I love my teammates, I love the coaching staff, I love this organization. They believe in me and believe in what I can do. It’s beautiful.”

| “The biggest thing for me, I love my teammates, bro. This is, like, the best group of guys I’ve ever been around hooping and it makes me love coming to work.”#WalkoffInterview | @lhmauto pic.twitter.com/l0W7xfmj4K

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 5, 2021

Despite Clarkson shooting around, or under, 33.3 percent from three-point range throughout his first seven games, he’s made an impact in other ways by playing stronger defense and competing on both ends of the floor. He’s currently averaging 16.4 points per game this season.

The post Jordan Clarkson Credits Jazz Teammates After Victory Over the Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

When it comes to fashion, Jordan Clarkson is a style connoisseur. The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year recently appeared on ‘Catch My Thrift’—a brand new series by SLAM in which players around the L go thrift shopping with LeagueFits and candidly share their thoughts on their personal style, game day fits and so much more.

Clarkson needed an outfit for brunch in Venice Beach, so LeagueFits took him shopping right off the boardwalk in order to find the perfect look. The 2019-20 LeagueFits All-Drip Teams MVP also revealed what he’d wear to a yacht party, The Kentucky Derby and even the moon.

LeagueFits, a social media account run by creative producer Ian Pierno, sits at the intersection of the basketball world and the fashion world by capturing style all across the NBA and WNBA. ‘Catch My Thrift’ is the latest content series by LeagueFits, which also includes a podcast, ‘Survival of the Fitted’.

The show, hosted by Pierno and intern Joe Williams, features conversations with some of the most fashionable athletes, designers, stylists, and influencers in the game, from JJ Redick to DiJonai Carrington. Stream ‘Survival of the Fitted’ here.

LeagueFits x Change of Heart Collection is AVAILABLE NOW!

Photo via Cassy Athena Photo.

The post Jordan Clarkson Goes Thrift Shopping With LeagueFits on Brand New Series, ‘Catch My Thrift’ appeared first on SLAM.

So when Clarkson, the winner of the 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year Award, saw photos circulating social media last week of Salt Lake City’s Yum Yum Food Truck plastered with anti-Asian hate speech and images, it struck a chord.

A proud Filipino-American himself, Clarkson was just one of thousands of social media users that saw the racial slurs and images spray-painted across the well-known Filipino food truck last week. Amidst a pandemic that has seen a severe jump in hate crimes against Asian-Americans, Clarkson knew he couldn’t sit on the sidelines for this one.

“There’s just no room for that, especially right now,” Clarkson said. “It’s been tough, tough years on this earth, this country, this world. There’s a lot of stuff going on. I feel like us together, and everybody finding a peace, will make things a lot more comforting in this world. We ain’t got no room for the hate no more. That’s got to go out of the window real quick.”

With the help of vehicle wrap company Identity Graphx, the 29-year-old paid for interior cleaning, detailing and designed a brand-new exterior for the truck that will be unveiled tomorrow at the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Salt Lake.

It hurt me deeply to see that Salt Lake’s @yumyumasian food truck was recently vandalized – I know the pain that hateful language and racism causes. With help from @identitygraphix we’ll be able to restore the truck and hopefully lift Ben and his family’s spirit!! #StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/HLfzX7AaEc

— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) June 9, 2021

The organization stepped in to aid the efforts of Clarkson and local businesses and politicians by inviting Ben Pierce, co-owner of the Yum Yum Food Truck, and his family to Game 2 of the Jazz’s Western Conference Semifinals series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

During a third quarter timeout, the Jazz presented Pierce and his family with a signed Jordan Clarkson jersey on the jumbotron. A sold-out Vivint Arena provided a deafening applause in support for the family.

After @JordanClarksons lent a helping hand to the Filipino owners of the Yum Yum Food Truck that got vandalized, the @utahjazz and JC welcomed the family to Game 2. #RepublikaNgNBA #Jordan6larkson pic.twitter.com/4DHIwxGw9z

— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) June 11, 2021

Due to the dramatic uptick hate crimes against Asian-Americans, many Asian-Americans are currently living in fear.

According to Stop AAPI Hate, there were more than 6,600 incident reports from March 2020 to March 2021. The Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism reports Asian-American hate crimes have surged by 145 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.

“It has been powerful, and for me, it’s been a lot,” Clarkson said. “But you know, I am learning and doing a lot of things as well to try to catch up on a lot of this stuff. Being young in the league, you are kind of not really paying attention to a lot of this stuff. As you get older, you really kind of embrace this role of who you are. It really hits home in those times.”

The post Jordan Clarkson Revamps Local Food Truck Targeted by Hate Crime appeared first on SLAM.

The Jazz had the honor of having two bench players to finish first and second in the balloting. Fellow Jazz teammate, Joe Ingles finished second. He surprised Clarkson by presenting the award on TNT.

Joe Ingles hands Jordan Clarkson the #KiaSixth Man of the Year trophy pic.twitter.com/pamxUATDqb

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 24, 2021

Clarkson collected 65 first-place votes for 407 total points. Ingles finished 34 first-place votes and 272 points. This the first time in NBA history that teammates finished with the top two spots for the award.  New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose finished third with 77 points.

The post Jordan Clarkson Outlasts Jazz Teammate to win NBA’s Sixth Man Award appeared first on SLAM.

With how good they’ve been, there doesn’t appear to be any buzz around the League for either of their stars to be in the MVP race. In an interview with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Clarkson expressed his opinion that both Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell should be in the conversation for MVP. 

“Donovan, Rudy, both of these guys are impact players and superstars. I don’t see why they wouldn’t be in the conversation.”

Gobert and Mitchell have been exceptional. When it comes to anchoring their defense, Gobert has once again been the key driver for their success on that end of the floor. At this point in the season, he’s averaging 2.8 blocks per game to go along with 14.2 points and 13.2 rebounds per contest. 

Mitchell is unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor. He’s averaging 24.4 points and 5.4 assists per game while shooting .380 from deep on 8.6 attempts per contest. The Jazz have an offensive rating of 117.0 this season, good for third in the league, behind Mitchell as their primary scorer. 

While there are many superstars who deserve to be in the MVP race, perhaps Clarkson has a point about Mitchell and Gobert. Historically, the NBA Most Valuable Player has been on one of the better teams in the league that season. With the highest net rating in the league as well as the best record, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell deserve more credit. 

The post Jordan Clarkson Thinks Rudy Gobert And Donovan Mitchell Deserve More Recognition appeared first on SLAM.

Perhaps what’s been most important for the Jazz is their continuity and chemistry this season. In a unique year, where things feel very different, this team has looked as fluid as any in the league. Perhaps that’s the advantage of having a similar core over the past couple of seasons while the rest of the league has mostly assembled brand new rosters.

Over this 19 game stretch, Utah has been near the top of the league in quite a few categories. For starters, their defense has been as good or better as it’s ever been, with a league-leading 105.6 defensive rating over this stretch. They are also ranked top-five in the League in blocks (5.8 blocks per contest).

Offensively, the Jazz have played with the eighth-slowest pace in the league, working through their half-court offense and generating quality shots while posting the second-best offensive rating of any team. They’ve attempted the most three-pointers in the league over this stretch and, finally, they’ve taken care of the glass, dominating in that category with 48.5 rebounds per game, which is best in the league over these 19 games.

With Rudy Gobert once again playing as one of the best defenders in the NBA along with Donovan Mitchell torching opposing defenses, Utah has been extremely efficient on both ends of the floor. Not only do the Jazz have a well-rounded starting lineup, but they also have an excellent bench that is headlined by NBA Sixth Man of the Year Candidate, Jordan Clarkson.

The post How The Utah Jazz Have Put Together 18 Wins In 19 Games appeared first on SLAM.

Last season, Montrezl Harrell won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for the LA Clippers. While he certainly will be considered to win it again this season, he’s got plenty of competition. Similar to past NBA seasons, having a guy who can come off the bench and give you a high level of production has proven to be a necessity.

At the quarter mark of the 2020-21 season, we broke down our top five Sixth Man of the Year candidates.

Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors)

13.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 BPG, .444 3P%

Boucher will be in consideration for both NBA Sixth Man of the Year as well as Most Improved Player. Although he was solid over the first few years of his career, he’s made an enormous jump off the bench this season. 

Boucher has done it all for the Raptors this season, giving them a scoring punch of the bench, while also being the team’s second-best rebounder. Even at the forward position, his three-point shooting has been excellent during his early 2020-21 campaign. 

Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz)

17.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 SPG, .387 3P%

When it comes to pure scorers in the NBA, Clarkson is one of the best, even outside of just bench players. In fact, he’s top 50 in the league this year in points per game and comes off the bench for the Jazz. 

During Utah’s recent ten-game win streak, Clarkson was unstoppable. He’s converted on 3.1 three-point attempts per game, which is 14th best in the league. 

Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets)

18.4 PPG, 2.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, .363 3P% 

Eric Gordon should be in consideration for this award as long as he continues to come off the bench. To this point, he’s actually started in just over a third of the Rockets’ games. 

Regardless, he’s had one of his best seasons in the scoring department. Averaging over 17 points per game is no easy task off the bench. 

Shake Milton (Philadelphia 76ers)

14.1 PPG, 3.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, .886 FT%

Shake Milton has been one of the key reasons for the Sixers having a consistent season thus far. After Doc Rivers spoke highly of him all offseason, Milton has risen to the occasion. 

On one of the most talented squads in the NBA, he’s the third leading scorer on the team. Milton is also a great facilitator, with the second most assists on the roster. 

Terrence Ross (Orlando Magic)

13.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG, .331 3P%

Terrence Ross has made a name for himself in this league by scoring the ball at a high level. This season, nothing has changed, as he’s been one of the best in the NBA once again.

As Orlando’s third-leading scorer, Ross has been great from beyond the arc. As a bonus, he’s been a pest defensively and leads the team in steals per game. 

The post NBA Award Watch: 2021 Sixth Man of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

That same evening, NBA players opted to compete, but members of the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons took a knee in protest to the recent events.

Coaches and players across the league have also spoken up about what happened, including the vast difference between how Capitol law enforcement responded to the peaceful Black Lives Matter protests outside of the White House in June compared to how they handled the riots at the Capitol building.

According to The Guardian, Washington police, US Park police, over 5,000 national guard troops (in full body armor), and federal agencies like the Bureau of Prisons were present in June. The Black Lives Matter Movement tweeted that Black protesters were met by law enforcement carrying assault rifles, tear gas, and battle helmets.

Meanwhile, only 340 guardsmen were sent in advance to handle the rioters on Wednesday. 115 of them were on duty and mainly directed traffic, while the DC and Virginia national guard were sent only after the Capitol had been breached. Officers were even spotted taking selfies with rioters.

Here are reactions from the NBA:

Jaylen Brown: “There is two split different America’s. In one America you get killed by sleeping in your car, selling cigarettes or playing in your backyard. In another America, you get to storm the Capitol. No tear gas, no massive arrests.”

Brad Stevens: “My own personal takeaway is the same as many of you: That we have a long way to go. My personal belief is two weeks from now we’ll be in a better spot, but we still have a long way to go,” said Stevens .”We have to continue to prioritize it. Not only ask about and talk about, but do something about it.”

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat:

Steve Kerr: “The truth matters in our country and anywhere in any circumstance because of the repercussions if we allow lies to spread and if we enable people in power to lie…All of a sudden you have millions of people who are doubting an election that was certified in every state. We had seven to eight more million people vote for [Joe] Biden than for Trump. Every state has certified those results. Every court appeal has been turned down. A legitimate election is suddenly questioned by millions of people, including many of the people are leading our government because we’ve decided to over the last few years allow lies to be told. This is who we are. You reap what you sow.”

Stan Van Gundy: “If you are an American and aren’t embarrassed by the domestic terrorism taking place at the Capitol there is something wrong with you. This is a shameful day for our country.”

Doc Rivers: “It’s pretty disturbing, obviously. Sad. But what it’s not is, I keep hearing, this attack on democracy. It’s not. Democracy will prevail. It always does. It shows you a lot, though. When you saw the protests in the summer and you saw the riots and the police and the National Guard and the army, and you see this and you saw nothing. It basically proves a point about a privileged life in a lot of ways. I’ll say it because I don’t think a lot of people want to: Could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming the Capitol, and what would’ve happened?

“So that, to me, is a picture that is worth a thousand words for all of us to see, and probably something for us to reckon with, again. No police dogs turning on people, no billy clubs hitting people — people being peacefully escorted out of the Capitol. So it shows you that can disperse a crowd peacefully, I guess, would be the one thing. But it’s a sad day in a lot of ways; not good for our country and more across the borders, that people see this. It’s part of what we are, and so we have to solve it.”

John Wall: “The most important thing we can do is still stand up for what we stand for and believe in that and stand behind that. We can’t really control what people want to have outbursts and things like that.”

Draymond Green: “…It’s shameful to keep calling them protestors. They’re not f***ing protestors. They’re f***ing terrorists.”

“It’s baffling with the reaction that the law enforcement had and whoever else was involved from a authoritarian standpoint to see the National Guard standing on those same steps when there was a peaceful protest and now to see a terrorist attack and there was no National Guard. It just goes to show you where this country is and where this country has always been and probably where it’s going to stay, to be quite honest. Nothing’s changed. I think through social media and all of these different things we have at our fingertips today, we’re more aware of things. But nothing has changed. This is the same America that it’s been. It’s no different.”

Andrew Wiggins: “Let there be some black people running in there, they all would’ve been shot before they even got to the building.”

Lloyd Pierce: “It’ll never change unless there’s acknowledgement in the past with regards to how African Americans have always been treated in the history of that and going back to slavery and going back to Reconstruction and going back to civil rights,” Pierce said. “You can’t say that things are going to change if you don’t acknowledge that it’s a problem. What you’re seeing today is a reminder there’s a huge difference. There’s a reason why there [aren’t] shooting and brutality and looting and things of that nature, and people are just walking around the Capitol building as if it’s nothing; and people sitting in [Speaker of the House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi’s office as if it’s nothing.”

Kevin Love: “An absolute disgrace what’s happening at the US Capitol right now. And a blatant example of inequity in how law enforcement chooses to deal with those involved.”

Jamal Crawford: “You do things like this when you know there is a certain privilege where nothing is gonna happen to you.”

Garrett Temple: “I scan my timeline and keep seeing the word “embarrassing.” I’m not embarrassed, I’m not surprised, or shocked even. Embarrassed would mean that I feel a sense of shame by what is going on. I have no such feeling. These people do not come close to being a representation of me”

Scott Brooks: “We should be better than this. What I see in the videos, it’s disgusting. This is a special place. You just hope that everybody from there, our fans; everybody’s safe. This should not be allowed. It’s unacceptable. This is America’s Capitol. You should not be able to do what I saw on video. It’s disgusting, it’s embarrassing, and it should never happen. We have to [play]. This is our job. This is what we have to do. It’s a couple hours out of the day. We all feel the same. It’s just disgusting, but we have to be better. Democracy is there for a reason. It’s all everybody has fought for.”

Jordan Clarkson: “People see the difference; they saw what people did today and how there were no consequences for them. On the other side, it would have…ended in multiple arrests and deaths.”

 J.B. Bickerstaff: “I mean, it’s saddening. It’s disgusting, to be honest with you,” Bickerstaff said. “Our democracy has been a beacon for hundreds of years of what the world ideologically should be. People have looked up to us all over the world and what’s happening there is a disgrace. We have a democracy. Every vote should matter. Every state should have the right to certify their votes and their results. And when that happens, we move forward.

“It’s a stain on our democracy. It’s entitled, spoiled, throwing temper tantrums instead of accepting and moving forward to make our country better, which is the most important thing. It’s not about us as individuals, it’s about what’s best for the country and how we heal our country. And this doesn’t help. This makes it worse.”

The post NBA Reacts To Riots At U.S. Capitol appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson averaged 15.2 points per game in his 42 contests with the Jazz and provided a crucial offensive spark for the team that pushed the Denver Nuggets to Game 7 in the first-round of the playoffs.

The four-year deal will keep the 28-year-old Clarkson in town through the 2023-24 season.

The move was made possible thanks to Utah’s prior trades this week to unload Ed Davis on the New York Knicks and Tony Bradley on the Detroit Pistons.

The post Jordan Clarkson to Sign Four-Year Deal with Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

During the six-week summer program, students were paired with mentors and industry experts to create their own music. Listen to some of the Songwriting Academy’s content here.

In the video below, Bazley, Clarkson and McLemore congratulated the All-Stars for their hard work and presented them with a pair of LG TONE Free true-wireless earbuds.

The post NBA Players Served as Advocates in ASAS’ Summer Songwriting Academy appeared first on SLAM.

The move gives Cleveland a highly acclaimed former lottery pick that has struggled to stay healthy throughout the last five years of his career.

While Exum has long shown upside given his length and athleticism, he’s played more than 42 games just twice in six campaigns.

Exum remains a relatively intriguing building block with two years left on his current contract but the Jazz are better positioned to attempt to contend in the west than develop long-term assets. The Aussie guard has seen less action this year, just 7.6 minutes a night, than he has in any previous season.

The Jazz, in exchange, land an offensive catalyst that’s proven himself capable of filling the stat sheet across stints with the Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers. Clarkson has averaged 14.6 points in just 23.0 minutes per game this season.

Clarkson’s $13.4 million deal expires at the end of this season.

The post Cavaliers Acquire Dante Exum From Jazz appeared first on SLAM.

It’s a proverb that rings its truth every day in the NBA.

Players around the League stepped up their game in the tunnel this season, so we added on a third team. It’s important to recognize progress, too, so we also mixed in a most-improved award to show love to the hooper who stepped up his tunnel walk the most in 2018-2019.

Anyways, we can skip to what you’re here for: This year’s LeagueFits All-Drip Teams and Awards.

THIRD TEAM: Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons, Dennis Schroder, Jordan Clarkson, Serge Ibaka

Three players made their All-Drip debuts in Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons and Dennis Schroder.

SECOND TEAM: Terry Rozier, Tobias Harris, Kevin Love, Kyle Kuzma, Mike Scott

Kyle Kuzma built upon his Rookie of the Year award from a year ago by making the jump to the Second Team. Tobias Harris and Mike Scott also made their All-Drip debuts.

FIRST TEAM: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kelly Oubre, PJ Tucker, Shai GIlgeous-Alexander

No surprises here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first rookie in LeaugeFits history to make an All-Drip Team.

MOST-IMPROVED: Dennis Schroder

One time for the #EuroDrip icon.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

No one rook should have all this power.

MVP: Kelly Oubre

Waves never die.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor and Drip Director at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Pat Bonoan is a Graphic Designer at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 2019 LeagueFits All-Drip Teams are STACKED appeared first on SLAM.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQAimEFmRz/

Russell Westbrook made the Top 5 for the third consecutive week, coming in at second place with a cozy Honor the Gift (his own brand) fit and Jordan Concord XI kicks.

Jimmy Butler made a solid first impression in his first game in Philadelphia as he sported Kenzo and and a Saint Laurent jacket, landing himself on the Top 5 rankings for the second consecutive week. Kelly Oubre (No. 3) and Patty Mills (No. 5) joined Paul as players to make their Top 5 debuts.

Hamidou Diallo was the only rookie featured this week, joining Mo Bamba, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Allonzo Trier and Luka Doncic as first-year players to be featured through the first month of the season.

John Wall, Dennis Schroder, Mike Conley, Kelly Oubre, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma each earned multiple mentions.

Last week ran from Nov. 9 until Nov. 17.

—

To keep up with the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted, follow @LeagueFits on Instagram and Twitter 

Ian Pierno is a Social Editor for SLAM. Follow him on Twitter at @IanPierno

Photos via Getty Images

The post Fits of the Week: Jimmy Butler Stunts in Philly Debut, CP3 Brings the #CamoDrip 💧 appeared first on SLAM.

Meet the first-ever SLAM @LeagueFits All-Drip Teams and Rookie of the Year, a group of 11 players that were built for the Survival of the Fitted.

All-Drip First Team

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Brodie made a career for himself with his fearless attitude on the court, and his attitude in fashion isn’t much different. The League’s most versatile dresser, Russ isn’t afraid to make jaws drop on any given night.

Nick Young, Golden State Warriors 

Swaggy P became Swaggy Champ as he won his first-ever NBA Finals with Golden State, but he kept it straight Hollywood with the fits. In addition to wearing top-shelf names like Saint Laurent, Supreme and Rhude Designs, Swaggy gets bonus points for dropping a new collection of jawnz on his own line, Most Hated Los Angeles.

PJ Tucker, Houston Rockets

PJ Tucker’s career made stops in Israel, Greece, Italy, Puerto Rico, Canada and Germany before he became a Houston Rocket. With an international influence playing a role in his drip, the NBA’s undisputed sneaker king joined the upper echelon of all-time fit icons, too.

Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves

Jimmy loves his patterns, and it shows. Never afraid to be bold, Butler was one of the League’s most coordinated dressers during his first year in Minnesota.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron is way cooler than your dad. Year 15 was a legendary one for the King off the court just as much as it was on the hardwood. James mixed things up, rocking streetwear brands like Billionaire Boys Club, top-flight designed suits from Thom Browne (shouts out to the suit shorts) and up-and-coming Scholastics. Dad Drip at its finest.

All-Drip Second Team

James Harden, Houston Rockets

Stella McCartney, Balenciaga, Maison Valentino, Y-3, Raf Simons, Versace, Vetements, etc. The Beard rocked the League’s deepest designer wardrobe as he led the Rockets to a franchise-best 65 wins.

Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers/Cleveland Cavaliers

JC made the jump from Los Angeles to Cleveland at the trade deadline, but the youngin’ brought the West Coast streetwear style with him to the midwest. Already one of the League’s Supreme kings, Clarkson mixed things up with Off-White, Rhude Designs and Gucci.

Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors 

Simple and steezy, Serge Ibaka made Dad Drip cool again in Toronto. Touted by Kyle Lowry as “The Most Stylish Man in the NBA,” Ibaka capped off a career fit year with the Raptors by heading East to stunt out at Paris Fashion Week (just peep the ‘gram).

Terry Rozier, Boston Celtics

The game doesn’t end when the final horn blows for Scary Terry. Rozier had Twitter popping when he wore a Drew Bledsoe jersey after knocking Eric Bledsoe’s Bucks out of the postseason, but the Pats threads weren’t the only notable fit from Rozier, who brought out some of the League’s tuffest Off-White combinations.

Chris Paul, Houston Rockets

Deion Sanders once said that “You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good,” and it was the motto CP3 rode all the way to his first-ever Conference Finals. The Point Gawd mixed innovation and bold patterns with old-school staples (shouts out to making the dad cap cool again) in the winningest season of his career.

All-Drip Rookie of the Year

Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers

You would’ve thought Kuz had been Hollywood his whole life. Brining serious game and a booming personality to the Lakers, Kuzma has the wardrobe to match his path to stardom.

—

To keep up with the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted, follow @LeagueFits on Instagram 

The post Introducing the First-Ever LeagueFits All-Drip Teams 💧 appeared first on SLAM.

James broke out a special “South Beach” edition of his Nike LeBron 15 – a nod to the now iconic colorway that he made popular during his first season with the Heat. While King James came with the super-strong flex, Dwyane Wade was not to be outshined as he wore a wild custom pair of his Li-Ning WoW All-City 6 customized by Miami-based artist Rey Jaffet. Also getting in on the sneaker spotlight was Jordan Clarkson as he also wore a “South Beach” model, going with the Nike LeBron 9 P.S. Elite.

Out west, Montrezl Harrell continued the LeBron theme as he wore the Kith x Nike LeBron 15 “City of Angels” along with the Air Jordan II Retro “University Blue,” which released back in 2010. P.J. Tucker came with the special “JBC” version of the Air Jordan XXXI Low and Lance Stephenson rocked the Air Jordan VIII Retro “Confetti.” Also in the Pacers tilt with Golden State, we saw Nick Young bring out the adidas Crazy 97, a retro of Kobe Bryant’s old adidas Elevation EQT, Patrick McCaw with the Nike Zoom KD 4 “Scoring Title,” and Jordan Bell with the “Graffiti” Nike LeBron 15.

Peep game and scroll through our latest NBA kicks recap below.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

While guesting on the Road Trippin’: Richard vs Channing podcast, Clarkson explained his theory about dinosaurs as pets.

Chucky doll. 6’5 Pennywise. Kilts. –@jordanclarksons || Addidas. Dunking. Country music. – @larrydn7 || & DJ Montage BACK in the co-host chair #ThankYouAmtrak #EPISODE74 … Dropped! #HappyMondayYall

LISTEN: https://t.co/mhEJVzG1zT pic.twitter.com/S3yQn99glJ

— Road Trippin’ Show (@RoadTrippinPod) March 19, 2018

Clarkson: “Y’all know how we got dogs and stuff right? So, I think it was bigger people in the world before us, and the dinosaurs was they pets.”

DJ Montage: How big were these people?

Clarkson: “Oh, you look at a dinosaur. They got to be three times bigger than them.”

The post Jordan Clarkson Thinks Dinosaurs Were The Pets of ‘Bigger People’ appeared first on SLAM.

The possibility of LeBron relocating to L.A. is something Clarkson and his former teammates would discuss.

Jordan Clarkson said Lakers players talk to each other about LeBron James joining them: Inside Cavs-Nuggets @clevelanddotcom https://t.co/R7wgYgeDFS

— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) March 8, 2018

Clarkson was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a blockbuster trade last month, and marvels at the lengths people will go to in order to recruit James.

Per Cleveland.com:

“I wouldn’t say like management and the coaches or nobody, but in the locker room people talk when they see what’s going on,” Clarkson said, after the Cavs beat the Denver Nuggets 113-108. “That’s probably the only thing, people talk in the locker room.”

Also, Laker fan and personal-injury attorney Jacob Emrani paid for some billboards in Los Angeles that not only recruit James, but poke fun at the Philadelphia-area business that did the same thing last week.

“That’s so crazy,” Clarkson said. “That’s like a thing now, isn’t it?”

The post Jordan Clarkson: Lakers Discuss LeBron James’ Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

After the game, Clarkson defended his actions, saying that any professional basketball player would have done the same thing.

“Part of the game. If anybody say different, or say they would have done something different, they lying.

“Especially dudes that played the game. They know what’s up. That’s it.”

RELATED:
Report: JR Smith Suspended For Throwing Soup at Cavaliers Assistant Coach

The post Jordan Clarkson on Throwing Ball at Dario Saric: ‘Part Of The Game’ appeared first on SLAM.

Appearing on the CavsHQ radio show, Clarkson discussed how the leadership styles of the two greats differ:

Two different styles of leadership. LeBron is very encouraging, bringing everybody along. And Kobe, he’s testing you, seeing what you gonna give him – If he’s gonna get at you, scream at you, cuss, do whatever it is. He had his own way of leading guys as well. Two different sides. I’m just blessed to see both of them. 

Clarkson also emphasized the support he got from Kobe as a youngster in Los Angeles:

During my rookie year, Kobe was always on me. Getting in the gym early with him, getting shots and stuff like that. When we got on the court, he was not as vocal as LeBron is, in terms of being with everybody and encouraging and stuff. Kobe had his own way of encouraging guys [laughs]. But it was something similar [to the support I’m getting from LeBron].

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Jordan Clarkson is Bringing an Amazing Stable of Kicks to the Cavs

The post Jordan Clarkson Compares The Leadership Styles Of Kobe And LeBron appeared first on SLAM.

Jordan Clarkson has laced up each of those sneakers at least once this season–much to the League’s chagrin.

“To be honest, I’m just trying to find a shoe that the League’s gonna let me wear without saying nothing about them,” he laughs.

The NBA has a dress code that allows players to wear sneakers that are either black or white, or that match the squad’s primary color. So when Clarkson rocked the “What The” LeBron 11 at Madison Square Garden in December, he got in a little bit of trouble.

“Our eqpuipment managaer had said something to me after,” Clarkson says. “He wasn’t on the road that trip. I kinda snuck ’em real quick.”

Clarkson’s brand new teammate, LeBron James, noticed that he hooped in the “What The” 11 and he made sure to give a shout out on Twitter:

https://t.co/TT1isqvADV

— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 13, 2017

“That’s pretty dope,” Clarkson says, nearly two months before he ended up in The Land. “LeBron, he seen it and he took notice of it. That’s a good feeling.”

In addition to the limited-edition silhouettes he’s been wearing, Clarkson has also been rotating through two other Nike kicks. He’s been wearing the Kobe AD Mid a lot this season and he decided to go with that for his Cleveland debut. He hit for 17 points off the bench in a black pair of Mids yesterday, helping the Cavs grab a 121-99 win in Boston. And Clarkson’s also been playing in the Kyrie 3, which he counts as his favorite current sneaker, a stark contrast to the pair that first caught his eye as a kid.

“It was them AND1s, the slip-ons,” he says. “I used to try to get the baby blue ones.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see what Clarkson has been rocking this season.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

The post Jordan Clarkson is Bringing an Amazing Stable of Kicks to the Cavs appeared first on SLAM.

In the first blockbuster on deadline day, the Cavaliers traded Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and their 2018 first-round pick (protected) to the Lakers for Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance, per ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski:

Cleveland is sending Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers for Clarkson and Nance, league source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018

Cavaliers also sending its 2018 first-round pick in deal to Lakers, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018

Source: The Cavaliers 2018 first-round pick is protected.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018

As Wojnarowski outlines, the deal not only brings Los Angeles talent, but frees up future cap space; while the Cavs get two young, athletic players in Clarkson and Nance:

Three impactful details on trade for Lakers: They’ll have space for two max contract slots in 2018 or 2019, replenish first-round pick in 2018 Draft and gets Lakers some shooting for rest of season with Thomas and Frye.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2018

IT has averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists in fifteen games since returning from injury. Cleveland can no longer move the Nets pick they own that was speculated to be available:

The Cavs will now be barred from trading the Brooklyn Nets pick they own until after the draft. So that issue can be retired.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) February 8, 2018

Thoughts on the shocking development?

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The post Report: Cavaliers Trade Isaiah Thomas To Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

According to the Free Press‘ Vince Ellis, Detroit declined the offer.

Avery Bradley on trade talks: The Pistons should serve best interests https://t.co/PTz1OBaaxA via @freep

— VinceEllis (@AlabamaScribe56) January 29, 2018

The Los Angeles Lakers, trying to clear cap space this offseason, offered guard Jordan Clarkson for Bradley recently.

Clarkson, 25, is in Year 2 of a four-year, $50 million deal he signed in 2016. Bradley makes $8.8 million in the final season of his contract.

The Pistons weren’t interested previously, but it’s unclear if those talks could be revisited.

RELATED:
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The post Report: Lakers Offered Jordan Clarkson For Avery Bradley appeared first on SLAM.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers have also made Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr available.

Clarkson, 25, is set to earn roughly 25.9 million over the next two seasons.

Thirty days until the NBA’s trade deadline: Buyers, sellers and movers who’ll shape the month. https://t.co/YKQokkUMsp

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 8, 2018

The Los Angeles Lakers, needing to shed salary for summer free agency, had been hopeful of waiting until the end of the season to move Jordan Clarkson — owed $26 million beyond this season — but there’s a mutual desire to find something sooner than later.

 

The Lakers have made it clear that Clarkson, Julius Randle and Larry Nance are available.

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The post Report: Jordan Clarkson, Lakers Have ‘Mutual Desire’ To Find Trade Before Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

Nick Young, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson all took the court in mismatched sneakers this month. Nick Young paid homage to Tracy McGrady by rocking two different colorways of the adidas T-Mac 3 on Christmas Day. LeBron made a statement in Washington DC with one black sneaker and one white sneaker, each stamped with EQUALITY on the back heel.

The King. pic.twitter.com/3pgVOGsudr

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 17, 2017

The Nike Kyrie 4 debuted in the “Confetti” colorway, a mismatched callback to the confetti that fell when the Warriors defeated the Cavs in last year’s Finals. Klay Thompson was the man guarding Irving throughout that series and his Christmas Day KT3s featured one red and one green model at the same time.

After wearing a “Jason” themed Hyperdunk on Halloween, Karl-Anthony Towns has been showing off a steady stable of custom colorways. He wore more individual heat in December when he called out Kanye and the Grinch. He’s been working with Kickstradomis, an LA-based customizer who can also count Mario Hezonja, Hassan Whiteside and James Harden as players to hoop in his designs.

Harden wore his exclusive “Legacy” Vol. 1 in Boston earlier this week. He also has a “Free Meek” colorway that Kickstradomis whipped up for him. But his customs weren’t the only time Harden broke necks this month. Adidas quietly previewed the Harden Vol. 2 and the Beard also laced up the Harden BTE for the first time since it was seen months ago.

He was one of a handful of adidas athletes that went hard this month. Taurean Prince wore the T-Mac 5 “All-Star,” following up last month’s appearance of the T-Mac 5 “Bred.” Besides paying homage to T-Mac, Nick Young played in the Crazy 8 and he introduced the adidas Crazy BYW, along with Brandon Ingram.

But the biggest news from this month is that John Wall appears to be headed back to the Three Stripes. He played in the “Florist” Wall 1 a few days ago, a sneaker that was released more than three years ago.

Scroll through the gallery above to see all of it. PJ Tucker, Lance Stephenson, Montrezl Harrell and Jordan Clarkson continued to flex with rare pairs and Draymond Green took another shot at LeBron through his Christmas Day kicks. Gotta love the League, man.

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Photos courtesy of Getty Images

The post Best NBA Kicks of December 2017 appeared first on SLAM.

The Nets were able to hold off a fourth quarter comeback attempt from the Hawks after D’Angelo Russell stepped up to hit a pair of clutch jumpers. Russell, who had 10 dimes, was part of a balanced scoring effort by the Brooklyn boys. He and Caris LeVert both scored 16 points, DeMarre Carroll put in 17 and Allen Crabbe added 20 off the bench.

D-Lo Caris. Young Nets out and running (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/ZKbczSxq6s

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 22, 2017

Dennis Schroder went down with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.

Timberwolves 115 (2-1), Thunder 113 (1-2)

Russell Westbrook was just about unstoppable in the fourth quarter. His 15 fourth quarter points spearheaded the Thunder’s comeback after they were losing 88-75 after the third.

Westbrook ended up with 31 points, complemented by 23 from Carmelo Anthony and 14 from Paul George. Carmelo hit a three-ball from the left wing with 5.1 seconds remaining to give OKC a one-point lead. But Andrew Wiggins wasn’t going to be denied. He pulled up from just inside halfcourt and banked in a buzzer-beating jumpshot to give the Timberwolves the win.

Andrew Wiggins goes glass to send the Thunder home!!! (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/4GlkaMVuaQ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2017

He and Karl-Anthony Towns both scored 27 for Minnesota. They were helped out by 19 points and 9 assists from Jeff Teague, 15 points and 6 assists from Jimmy Butler and 11 points and 10 rebounds from Taj Gibson.

Pelicans 119 (1-2), Lakers 112 (1-2)

Jordan Clarkson led a furious comeback, an extended 29-6 run, that helped the Lakers overcome a 22-point deficit to take a five-point lead in the fourth. The Pelicans opened up their lead throughout the first three quarters by pounding the paint and giving Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins plenty of touches.

Nah, how'd AD pull this off? (via @nbatv) pic.twitter.com/BVpeDzJKru

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 23, 2017

But Clarkson, Kyle Kuzma and Julius Randle didn’t quit. It took big shots from E’Twaun Moore and Jameer Nelson (in his first game with the Pels) to put the Lakers down.

Davis finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks, Cousins added 22 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. The young Lakers got plenty of contributions in the losing effort. Clarkson had 24 points and 5 dimes off the bench, while Kuzma scored 20 points and Lonzo Ball filled up the stat sheet, registering 13 assists, 8 rebounds and 8 points.

The post Post Up: Timberwolves Escape Oklahoma City appeared first on SLAM.

But the Lakers President Magic Johnson still expects the 25-year-old guard to play a major role next season.

Speaking at Clarkson’s basketball camp in L.A., Johnson said that he challenged Clarkson to become Sixth Man of the Year in 2017-18. From Lakers Nation (starting at 0:42):

“He’s going to play a major role in us being a better team this year.

 

“We felt we put some weapons around him that will even make his game better.

 

“I have challenged him because I want him to be Sixth Man of the Year. So I’ve challenged him to play like that.

 

“I think he has the potential, the talent. He’s worked hard this summer.”

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Report: Lakers ‘Actively Seeking Out Offers’ for Jordan Clarkson

The post Magic Johnson Challenges Jordan Clarkson to Win Sixth Man of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson, who turns 25 next week, may be the Lakers’ most expendable asset if they plan on signing Paul George and/or select another guard with the No. 2 pick. Per the Huffington Post:

Per a source, #Lakers are not just "open-minded" to trading Jordan Clarkson, as has been reported, but are actively seeking out offers.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 1, 2017

Clarkson signed a 4-year, $50 million deal with the Lakers last summer, and came off the bench to average 14.7 points on 44.5 percent shooting in 2016-17.

Recently, Lakers president Magic Johnson called Brandon Ingram the only Laker that’s off-limits this summer.

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The post Report: Lakers ‘Actively Seeking Out Offers’ for Jordan Clarkson appeared first on SLAM.

Despite Russell Westbrook’s career-high 58 points, OKC absorbed their fourth straight loss. Portland outscored the Thunder 38-25 in the third quarter, and Westbrook cooled off in the fourth (6-of-15 shooting in the final period), helping the Trail Blazers improve to within 1.5 games of the eighth seed. Deadline acquisition Jusuf Nurkic came up huge for Terry Stotts, scoring six clutch points within the game’s final minute.

https://youtu.be/OFLOsj3ZSH4

Mavericks 122 (26-36), Lakers 111 (19-44)

Dirk Nowitzki scored his 30,000th career point as only he could; hitting a perfect fadeaway over Larry Nance Jr.

THE SHOT HEARD AROUND THE AAC! CONGRATS ON 30K DIRK!! pic.twitter.com/r8QoozVmxZ

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 8, 2017

What a moment for Dirk, who now joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in league history to reach the 30K mark. While Nowitzki’s 25 points came in the first half, Seth Curry added 18 (including four from beyond the arc) and Yogi Ferrell scored 16 to give Dallas their third straight W. Dirk received props from several fellow NBA players on Twitter, but this one had to feel nice:

Congrats @swish41 you are a true great #fadelikedirk

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 8, 2017

Wizards 131 (37-24), Suns 127 (21-42)

In a game with some bad blood, the Wizards held off Phoenix, improving to 1.5 games ahead of Toronto for the third seed. It was hardly an easy W for Scott Brooks’ squad- Brandon Jennings was ejected in the first half and the Wizards squandered a 22-point lead- but John Wall was stellar over 37 minutes, and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 29 points off the bench.

Brooks summarized the game well:

“That was a wild game. That was like an old ABA game,” Brooks said. “Crazy.”

The post Post Up: Fade Like Dirk appeared first on SLAM.

Three years ago, he was pushing for the Lakers to openly and shamelessly tank.

.@MagicJohnson doesn't want to use Lakers' youth as an excuse. But he's more patient than usual https://t.co/GON8pLLrkk

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 18, 2017

The Hall of Famer wants second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell to take on a bigger leadership role, and praised Nick Young for playing inspired ball on both ends of the court (praise that delighted Swaggy P):

“Fans have to be encouraged, but Lakers fans are tired of losing,” Johnson told Southern California News Group. “We’re trying as Lakers fans to still be patient. But it’s hard. We have to wait some more?”

 

Johnson suspects the 20-year-old Russell has become somewhat hesitant with that responsibility out of respect for the team’s veterans and for the teammates who are in his age range. Russell agreed. […] “It’s hard; it’s not easy,” Russell said. “I’m trying to communicate and talk with guys as much as possible. I’m trying to figure out how to talk to guys. We’re all young. Figuring it out for everybody is key.”

 

“It’s the best I’ve ever seen him play,” Johnson said of the nine-year NBA veteran. “He’s played both ends of the court and has played smart. He’s played for the team.” […] “Magic Johnson? The Magic Johnson? For real?” said Young, a Los Angeles native who starred at USC. “To hear that from the top three greatest player of all time, that’s a confidence booster. I’ve always looked up to Showtime and Magic. For him to even notice that is a blessing.”

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The post Magic Johnson: ‘Lakers Fans are Tired of Losing’ appeared first on SLAM.

https://youtu.be/OX9WNHGukys

Both players were ejected, and the Lakers eventually won in a 127-100 blowout.

After the game, Clarkson said his former teammate Kobe Bryant taught him to never be caught with his guard down.

Kobe would know. Chris Childs infamously punched Bryant in an altercation back in April of 2000.

“It was one of those things where he was running at me,” Clarkson said. “I didn’t know what he was going to do. So I put my hands up to defend myself. I went back to stuff Kobe (Bryant) told me about an incident he had. He said to never have your hands down in case something happens.”

The League will look at the incident to determine if fines and/or suspensions are necessary.

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Jordan Clarkson on Kobe Bryant: ‘Almost Like Breaking Up With Your Girlfriend’

The post Jordan Clarkson: Kobe Said To ‘Never Have Your Hands Down’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Grizzlies pulled off an improbable comeback at Oracle Arena, erasing a 24-point deficit behind a double-double from Mike Conley (27 points, 12 dimes) and 27 points from Zach Randolph. Stephen Curry lit it up for 40 points in the loss, while Kevin Durant added 27 points with 13 boards.

Memphis outscored Golden State 49-21 between the fourth quarter and overtime period, which didn’t sit well with coach Steve Kerr.

Steve Kerr on what bothered him in the fourth quarter when Memphis made its run: “I didn’t like our body language.”

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2017

Wizards 112 (17-18), Timberwolves 105 (11-25)

Despite a game-high 41 points from Andrew Wiggins, John Wall (18 points, 18 dimes) and the Wizards emerged with the W. Washington shot a combined 58.2% from the field in their ninth straight win at home.

Rockets 100 (29-9), Magic 93 (16-22)

The Rockets connected on a barrage of 3-pointers at the Amway Center, converting 15-of-49 shots from beyond the arc in Friday’s win. Sharp-shooter Eric Gordon was just 3-of-16 from long range, but Ryan Anderson, Patrick Beverley, and Trevor Ariza hit at least three each. D.J. Augustin and Aaron Gordon were Orlando’s leading scorers, notching 19 and 18 points, respectively.

https://youtu.be/TFrbpVCqFlY

Cavaliers 116 (27-8), Nets 108 (8-27)

LeBron James benefited from Kyrie Irving’s return to the lineup, posting 36 points with nine boards at the Barclays Center. Irving added 32 points in the victory, and Kevin Love double-doubled (17 points, 13 rebounds). With the impending arrival of Kyle Korver, the future looks bright for King James and the Cavs.

LeBron James says the Cavs "need a point guard." https://t.co/sHqVvDT9h8 pic.twitter.com/FSaxgfkkDX

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 6, 2017

Celtics 110 (22-14), 76ers 106 (9-25)

Al Horford drained four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of Friday’s home victory, sealing the win for Avery Bradley (game-high 26 points) and the Celtics. Nerlens Noel appears to have leapfrogged Jahlil Okafor in coach Brett Brown’s rotation, as Okafor sat out the duration of the game. Joel Embiid logged 23 points with eight boards and Ersan Ilyasova added 20 in Philadelphia’s close loss.

Joel Embiid said he wanted to guard Isaiah Thomas. So Isaiah had some words for him pic.twitter.com/cf41EsbVad

— SB Nation NBA (Click the pic to read ) (@SBNationNBA) January 7, 2017

Knicks 116 (17-19), Bucks 111 (18-17)

It was a showdown of elite big men at the Bradley Center, as Kristaps Porzingis (24 points, three blocks) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 points, five blocks) went down to the wire. Ultimately, the Knicks outscored Milwaukee 33-15 in the fourth quarter, snapping a six-game skid. Jabari Parker matched Antetokounmpo’s 25 points, while Carmelo Anthony led New York’s scoring with 26 points.

Joakim Noah FLUSH! #NBARapidReplay pic.twitter.com/5QDhqxam1A

— NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2017

Clippers 106 (25-14), Kings 98 (15-21)

What a difference one player’s return to the lineup makes. Chris Paul scored 14 points with 12 dimes and three steals in his return from a hamstring injury, helping L.A. mount a second half comeback. DeMarcus Cousins recorded 25 points with 11 boards in the loss, outscoring DeAndre Jordan (20 points, nine rebounds). If the Kings want to grab a 7 or 8 seed, the time to make a move is now.

The Sacramento Kings are pursuing Paul Millsap https://t.co/XgQTa5sKcL

— Sactown Royalty: A Kings Herald Joint (@sactownroyalty) January 6, 2017

Lakers 127 (14-26), Heat 100 (11-27)

There was bad blood in Friday’s rout, as Jordan Clarkson and Goran Dragic each received third quarter ejections for fighting.

https://youtu.be/OX9WNHGukys

Willie Reed scored 22 points with 12 rebounds and James Johnson added 20 for the short-handed Heat, but Lou Williams poured it on with a game-high 24 points. At least the Heat can take solace in Tyler Johnson’s jaw-dropping poster in the first half.

https://t.co/Io8gGTvz0m

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 7, 2017

The post Post Up: 24-Point Rally appeared first on SLAM.

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In the defining win of Brooklyn’s 2016-17 season, the Nets snapped an eight-game skid with a double-overtime win. Chris Paul posted a triple-double for L.A., but 26-year-old Sean Kilpatrick stole the show at the Barclays Center; tallying a career-high 38 points with 14 boards. Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford hit clutch shots to prolong the game, but Kilpatrick’s 3-point play at the end of double-OT sealed the W for Brooklyn. Doc Rivers watched the final quarter from the locker room, having been ejected in the first overtime period.

Doc Rivers may have been mad here. Hard to tell. pic.twitter.com/qefaBO7Gpz

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 30, 2016

Bucks 118 (8-8), Cavaliers 101 (13-3)

Where to even start with tonight’s game? The defending NBA champs entered Milwaukee as -330 favorites only to be dismantled by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. LeBron James scored 22 points but committed seven turnovers, while Kevin Love notched a double-double on just 3-of-10 shooting. Cleveland’s bench (eight reserves all scoring in single-digits) wasn’t able to bail out a pedestrian effort from the starting five.

34 points, 12 boards, five dimes, five steals, and a pair of blocks in @Bucks' 118-101 win over Cleveland. Have a night, @Giannis_An34! pic.twitter.com/a5nhVUAHN0

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 30, 2016

On top of the Greek Freak’s monstrous stat line, the Bucks received a memorable highlight from Jason Terry, who (incomprehensibly) was able to distract J.R. Smith mid-play and cause an open look for Tony Snell. The win is a momentum boost for Jason Kidd’s squad, who have now won three of their last four.

https://vine.co/v/5UeaMQlmQmB

Magic 95 (7-11), Spurs 83 (14-4)

All of Gregg Popovich’s regulars played, but the sub-.500 Magic were able to pull off an upset on the road. Nikola Vucevic double-doubled and Serge Ibaka contributed a stellar line (18 points, seven boards, two assists with two dimes). The win is encouraging, but Orlando’s offense is still a work in progress. D.J. Augustin and Elfrid Payton are an underwhelming tandem at the 1, while former #5 pick Mario Hezonja has yet to earn a rotation role.

After committing a season-high 18 turnovers against Orlando, the Spurs will look to regroup tomorrow night against the Mavericks.

Pelicans 105 (7-12), Lakers 88 (9-10)

The Lakers were dealt a substantial blow early on when Nick Young departed with an Achilles’ tendon strain. Swaggy P collided with Pels guard Tim Frazier and had to be escorted off the court. L.A.’s remaining offensive weapons shot just 5-of-30 from downtime, taking a lopsided loss to Anthony Davis (41 points, 16 boards, four steals, two blocks) and the Pelicans. AD has exceeded 30 points in 10 of his last 12 games, doing his best to keep NOLA relevant within the Western Conference playoff picture.

Anthony Davis has his 3rd game with 40+ Pts and 15+ Reb this season.

The rest of the NBA has zero. pic.twitter.com/Bp7okV5LDa

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 30, 2016

Pistons 112 (9-10), Hornets 89 (10-8)

The Hornets have played four games in the last five days, and it showed in tonight’s match-up with Detroit. Tobias Harris tallied 24 points in the winning effort, while Marcus Morris and KCP scored 18 each. Kemba Walker was on his game (23 points, four dimes), but Frank Kaminsky and Nicolas Batum shot a combined 4-of-22 from the field…yikes. Charlotte will receive a much-needed day off before facing Dallas on Friday.

Jazz 120 (11-8), Rockets 101 (11-7)

They’re still missing Derrick Favors, but the Jazz are a drastically improved team with Gordon Hayward (31 points, 12-13 FT) and George Hill (+17 Plus Minus) on the floor. Rudy Gobert was in peak form (double-double with three blocks), stifling any chance of a Houston W. James Harden (26 points on 8-of-23 shooting) and the Rockets will next face Golden State on Thursday.

The post Post Up: Upset Alert appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson and the rest of his young teammates are playing an exciting brand of hoops that’s given Laker Nation a sense of renewed hope.

Way back on Monday I followed Jordan Clarkson + a huge crew around Universal Studios. We went on rides. It was fun. https://t.co/o8uJpBm0B6

— Alysha Tsuji (@AlyshaTsuji) November 9, 2016

The squad has fully bought into new head coach Luke Walton’s message.

Per USA Today:

When I sat down with Clarkson for a brief interview outside the Jurassic Cafe, I asked if he misses Bryant’s presence in practice or games. The 24-year-old laughed in the middle of his answer.

 

“We’ve kind of moved on. It’s almost like breaking up with your girlfriend,” he said. “It’s kind of weird without them around and stuff. But it’s just us. We’re in our own space now. We’re creating something new.”

 

Both (D’Angelo) Russell and (Nick) Young have started every game so far under the guidance of Walton, who won championships as a player with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010. […] “He’s just cool. He’s one of us. He played, and he’s still young,” Clarkson said. “We can relate more to him than anything. He listens to the same music we listen to. It’s like having one of your friends guide you and be around. He’s definitely honest, he’s tough at times, but he’s real free and lets us learn from our mistakes.”

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The post Jordan Clarkson on Kobe Bryant: ‘Almost Like Breaking Up With Your Girlfriend’ appeared first on SLAM.

Still, Brooks had the last laugh, as Indiana hung on for a 115-108 home victory.

Paul George had a game-high 30 points, including the Pacers’ final 12 of the game, but remains unhappy with his team’s defense.

Per the AP:

“I know what a good defensive team is. I know what it looks like. We’re nowhere close to that,” Paul George said.

 

The Lakers trailed by as many as 16 points, but rallied and had their final lead at 108-107 before George put it away.

 

“We were searching for players to go to,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. “Paul hit his first shot and he looked like he wanted the ball, and we milked it. All-Stars like (Paul), you expect them to make plays like that. That’s what makes them great players.”

The post WATCH: Jordan Clarkson Drops Aaron Brooks With Nasty Crossover appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson is heading into his third NBA season this fall should see his touches and role increase dramatically now that Kobe has retired. If Clarkson’s play at the Air Hangar is a sneak peek of what we are going to see out of him this season, Lakers fans are in for a treat.

Check out Clarkson put on a show in the video above.

The post WATCH: Jordan Clarkson Does Work At The Nike x Jordan Air Hangar appeared first on SLAM.

Clarkson averaged 15.5 points, 4 boards, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals last season and has the potential to form a young, exciting backcourt going forward when paired with D’Angelo Russell.

Shams Charania and The Vertical had the report first:

Restricted free-agent guard Jordan Clarkson has reached agreement on a four-year, $50 million deal to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told The Vertical.

 

The contract will contain no options, sources said.

 

In his second NBA season, Clarkson averaged 15.5 points, four rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 79 games.

 

Clarkson, 24, was one of the most unique restricted free agents on the market. He was acquired with the 46th selection in the 2014 NBA draft and outperformed his minimum rookie salary. Clarkson made the NBA All-Rookie first team in 2015.

 

Because of the Gilbert Arenas provision, which limits what rival teams can offer restricted free agents who have only been in the league for one or two years, the Lakers remained in position to retain Clarkson.

Keep up with the latest signings during the July free-agency period by following our 2016 NBA Free Agent Tracker.

The post Jordan Clarkson Re-Signs With Los Angeles Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

E3, which is a premier trade show for computer, video and mobile games that’s been going on since the top of the week, had gamer aficionados from all over the country packed inside the Los Angeles Convention Center to get a first glimpse at the latest technologies and never-before-seen products.

Releasing worldwide on November 4, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare immerses players in a war story that, for the first time in franchise history, extends beyond the reaches of Earth into the vast expanse of our solar system. The game will also feature an “Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition,” which includes the return of the full campaign and 10 multiplayer maps from the famed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, released in high-definition brilliance as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.

SLAM was on site at E3 and chopped it up with Clarkson about Call of Duty, who’s the best on the team on the sticks, Kobe’s final game and much more.

SLAM: What’s your Call of Duty game like?

Jordan Clarkson: I’m pretty good, I would say. I gotta be at least top three on the team right now. I play online a little bit.

SLAM: And who are the other top teammates?

JC: Roy Hibbert, D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance a little bit and AB (Anthony Brown). I feel like we’re all kind of tied for that second and third spot.

SLAM: With the evolution of eSports and all these Call of Duty competitions, can we see you bringing a squad of NBA guys to play some of these gamers in the future?

JC: That would be cool if we did a Call of Duty NBA tournament. That would be really dope. I think we would win that. [Laughs].

SLAM: To be able to witness Kobe’s final game from start to finish—what was that whole experience like?

JC: It wasn’t even, like, real until it was over to be honest with you. I don’t even remember that game. Me and D’Angelo were talking the other day and he was like, ‘Bro, have you watched [Kobe’s] last game?’ and I was like, ‘Nah, I haven’t. I don’t even remember playing in it.’

It was just like one of those games where it was so high energy and everybody was so amped up, you know? It just came to an end like that was his last game. It ended so quick so it was one of those experiences that is always going to be in my memory. It was just a crazy, crazy time.

SLAM: Has it hit you that Kobe’s really gone from the game?

JC: [Laughs] I mean, I really won’t feel nothing until next year because we didn’t really see him much during the summertime because he didn’t come to the facility much. During the year will probably be the time where everybody actually feels that his presence is gone.

SLAM: Luke Walton’s in his last days with the Warriors. How eager is the team to have him at the helm in LA knowing the success and winning culture he’s been surrounded by in Golden State?

JC: It’s going to be good and that’s why we’re all excited for him to come here. I’m really just excited for his system and to be working with him and the new coaching staff. I don’t think we have a full coaching staff yet, but I know that management is working on it. All of us are excited to have him on the team.

SLAM: You recently hosted a basketball camp in your native country of the Philippines. What was the experience you gained from not only giving back to your country, but also having an impact on those in attendance?

JC: It was crazy for me. I love going to the Philippines, I love going to Manila and kind of just going around the whole country. I’m just trying to touch people in as many ways that I can—just trying to show them hope, give them some advice, ideas and any way I can help.

It’s just a blessing for me because I obviously love the culture there and how people treat you and it’s just a lot different because some of these people are in the worst circumstances and, you know, still be happy and still share the love. It’s just a crazy thing for me to be in the position where I can help people like that. I think it’s pretty cool.

SLAM: Speaking of giving advice, what message do you have for the guys that will get drafted No. 46 and higher?

JC: It’s not about where you get picked—it’s the fit. You’re going to go through a whole bunch of bumps and bruises, you’re not going to be playing much, but at the end of the day, you just got to keep pushing because you don’t know when your opportunity is going be called. And that stuff happens. You gotta be ready.

The post Q+A: Jordan Clarkson appeared first on SLAM.

The incident took place Sunday night in Hollywood, and Alexis Jones—an activist and public speaker against sexual harassment and domestic violence, who interviewed Young back in their respective college days—claims that at least one of the players gestured at her in an obscene manner.

https://t.co/mT4MaLaghV
…. Nick Young Meme … but nobody knows me (the world we live in) …

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) March 23, 2016

The Lakers have yet to indicate whether any disciplinary action will be taken.

Per the AP:

“The situation is just a miscommunication on both sides,” Clarkson said after leading the Lakers with 22 points in a 107-100 victory over Memphis on Tuesday night. “We don’t want to go into further detail on who’s right and who’s wrong in that situation, but at the end of the day, it was a miscommunication.”

 

Jones claims that at least one of the two players gestured obscenely at her and her mother while the parties’ cars were stopped at an intersection. After Jones posted the players’ photos on Instagram with a message describing “disgustingly vulgar gestures” made by some of the four men in the car, commenters informed her that the men were Young and Clarkson. […] Team spokesman John Black said the Lakers have spoken to Jones, Young and Clarkson about what happened.

 

“Our conclusion is that there are different interpretations of what happened,” Black said. “We support Nick and Jordan and believe what they told us about the incidents and their actions. We also are supportive of Alexis and her feelings about what happened, about women’s rights, and of the fine work Alexis is doing with her organization.”

The post Woman Accuses Nick Young and Jordan Clarkson of Harassment appeared first on SLAM.

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Jordan Clarkson: Nah, not really. My best friend, Andre Roberson, plays for the OKC Thunder. We’re kind of the only two guys that made it out of the city. We just worked hard, stayed on the grind and made it happen.

SLAM: It’s wild that no one from San Antonio is in the League, and then two best friends make it.

JC: We always used to talk about it as kids. We’d say we’d play in the NBA. To see our dreams come true is a blessing for both of us, both of our families and the city.

SLAM: If you’re from a major city, there are a lot of former NBA players around to teach you how to hoop. That said, how’d you learn the game?

JC: Growing up, nobody really taught me in the neighborhood. I was always watching TV, idolizing guys like Allen Iverson, Kobe, Gilbert Arenas. I learned a lot from watching those guys. Whenever I wanted to go to the actual gym, my dad was there for me. I would say he was sort of my trainer in high school.

SLAM: When did you really start balling?

JC: I didn’t start until like the ninth grade. I always played in the park and stuff, but I got serious and decided to chase basketball in the ninth grade.

SLAM: How did you make that decision?

JC: I just came in the house and told my mom and my dad I wanted to play [laughs]. They were, like, Alright, let’s make it happen. I wasn’t the most skilled, but I busted my tail.

SLAM: Were you playing in your yard, at the Y, at school?

JC: I played at the high school, and I always used to be at the YMCA around the corner, Davis Scott Y. They used to leave the gym open for me. I would go turn the lights on and shoot.

SLAM: Safe to say, you’re one of the best to ever come from San Antonio. But was your name buzzing back in school?

JC: Yeah, everybody knew who I was in the city, especially when we went to state two years in a row. Andre and I definitely stood out. At the time, we were ranked around top-10 in the state.

SLAM: You’ve put San Antonio on the map as a player, but you’re also putting the Philippines on, right?

JC: For sure—my mom is from Pampanga, a province there. They have got crazy passion and love for the game, so me being one of the first Filipino Americans to play in the NBA means a lot to me and the country. I’m trying to do my best to represent the country.

SLAM: Was your mom a hooper?

JC: My mom was a big volleyball player; my dad played a little ball. He always loved the game, though.

SLAM: What was it like when you went back home to San Antonio after your rookie season? Were you a celebrity?

JC: A little, but it’s a chill place. I did get my high school jersey retired, and that was probably one of the coolest things that’s happened to me. It means I really left my mark on the city.

SLAM: By the same token, I know you went to the Philippines for a while too. How was that?

JC: I had never been, but it was one of the best experiences in terms of travel. It’s so different there, but they really embraced me and showed so much love. I’m definitely going to spend more time there this coming summer.

SLAM: You don’t dress like a stereotypical Texan—you have more swag than I’d expect. Where did that come from?

JC: [Laughs] I’ve always been a little different and a little off the wall. It’s probably just in my blood. I was sent down here with a swag.

SLAM: And you found the perfect home for it in Los Angeles.

JC: Yeah, man.

—

Top image via Getty, others via Janie Clarkson

The post Lone Star appeared first on SLAM.

General manager Mitch Kupchak basically admits that he has his hands tied when it comes to The Black Mamba—the Lakers say they want Kobe to keep playing heavy minutes in his 20th and final campaign, and that they’ll worry about developing the young guys next season.

Kupchak continues to hold out hope that the Lakers will fare better during free agency this summer than they have in the last few years.

Per ESPN:

“Under normal circumstances [in a season like this], at some point, you would probably concentrate on just developing all your young players,” Kupchak said Tuesday. “But we can’t do that right now. This [season] is really a justified farewell to perhaps the best player in franchise history. And, God-willing, he’s going to want to play every game and he’s going to want to play a lot of minutes in every game, because that’s just the way he is. And as long as that continues, which it should, then that’s 30-35 minutes that you might give to a young player that you can’t. How do you get a feel for your team going forward when you know that your best player is not going to be there next year? So it’s really hard to go forward until he’s no longer here. That’s not a bad thing. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing at all. It’s something that I think is a good thing. In some regards, there’s a silver lining. Our younger players can make mistakes, and it can kind of go under the radar because Kobe garnishes so much attention. Every game, it’s about Kobe. Even when he doesn’t play, it’s about Kobe. So in a lot of regards, there’s a silver lining that our guys can develop under the radar and maybe make a mistake or make two mistakes and it not be a big deal.”

 

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Bryant has been a focus, with Lakers coach Byron Scott adamantly supporting his former teammate at every turn, even saying at one point that he would “never, never, never” bench the star no matter how much he struggles. […] “I was hoping that our young players, in conjunction with the veterans that we added, and Kobe at full health, would lead to a better record than what we have today,” Kupchak said. “I didn’t have any visions that we’d win 50 games or 45. Could we have won 45 or 40? I guess it’s possible. In fact, it still is possible. But where we stand today, it looks like we’re not going to meet that benchmark. So, in some regards, I’m disappointed with where we are today, but it is what it is. Kobe’s made a decision. He can’t play every game. He wants to play every game. We have to figure out a way when he does play to play with him, get him the minutes that he wants, get him ready for the next game, hope he plays the next game, and if he doesn’t, we have to get our lineup in such a way that we can compete and develop the young players. It’s not a perfect scenario, but there’s no way to plan this. There just isn’t.”

 

“I think we’ll see enough [from the younger players],” Kupchak said. “Yeah, I think we’ll see enough. I do. Kobe has been really good lately. He looks like he’s trying to fit in and play the right way. Yeah, I think we’ll see enough. Is it going to come as quick as you want? I mean, D’Angelo (Russell) is going to be 20. They all want it now, but it’s just going to take a year or two or three. But it’s certainly going to be a lot more attractive than what we had to offer last summer.”

Related
Lakers GM: ‘We Cannot Move on as a Team Until Kobe Leaves’

Lakers May Retire Both of Kobe Bryant’s Jersey Numbers

The post Lakers GM: ‘Every Game, It’s About Kobe’ appeared first on SLAM.

Kupchak knows the latter can’t happen until the Bryant retires at the end of the season.

Speaking to a group of season-ticket holders Sunday at Staples Center, Kupchak assured them that—with some $60 million in cap room to spend on free agents this summer—the team should be able to quickly rebuild.

Per the LA Times:

“We cannot move on as a team until Kobe leaves,” Kupchak said. “Part of that to me is painful because I’ve been here 20 years with Kobe.

 

“This is a year that’s dedicated to Kobe and his farewell. From my point of view, it gives me complete clarity. … We know what our [salary] cap situation is going to be like.”

 

In the meantime, the team is grooming its young core of players. […] “We feel in the last two years that we’ve gotten at least five attractive young players,” said Kupchak, listing Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown. “We’re so much in a better spot today than we were a year ago. We didn’t have that core.”

The post Lakers GM: ‘We Cannot Move on as a Team Until Kobe Leaves’ appeared first on SLAM.

Jordan Clarkson put the exclamation point on the Lakers’ 97-77 beatdown of the visiting Phoenix Suns by viciously slamming over 7-1 center Alex Len.

Clarkson said Kobe told him he's "been going to the hole like a light skinned dude. I have to start throwing down as a dark skinned dude"

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 4, 2016

It was a fun Sunday night all-around in SoCal—a fan won $95K by nailing a halfcourt heave …

… and Lou Williams led the way with a season-high 30 points.

Per the LA Times:

(Byron) Scott was most unhappy with Julius Randle, the only player he called out by name for his indifferent play in the fourth quarter. Randle didn’t stick around to face the media after the game either, apparently preferring not to talk about his 0-for-4 shooting night or the complaints he directed toward teammate Marcelo Huertas, who he felt didn’t get him the ball often enough in the fourth quarter.

 

In the end, though, the Lakers (8-27) extended their season-best winning streak to three games amid a slew of firsts. […] They allowed season lows in points in the first quarter (10), second quarter (12), first half (22) and the game.

 

And they did all this with Kobe Bryant sitting out for a second straight game because of a sore right shoulder, on which he received treatment right up until the start of the game.

The post WATCH: Jordan Clarkson With a Monster Dunk on Alex Len appeared first on SLAM.

Scott admits that he’s quickly losing patience with the youngsters on his roster—two Laker starters are rookies—and that he may start trimming their minutes.

Byron said his threshold for patience has lowered. Same lineup tonight but he said he'd make changes soon if struggles continue

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 6, 2015

Byron Scott said it's possible Larry Nance Jr. & Metta will play tonight. Byron suggested his bench rotation will be different tonight

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 6, 2015

The winless Lakers kick off a five-game road trip Friday night in Brooklyn.

Per the OC Register:

“I’m going to put guys out there that’s going to bust their butts,” Scott said following shoot around at Barclays Center on Friday, “because all those things we’ve been doing the last six weeks, you’ve got to start getting that and it can’t just be in practice. […] So I told them, pretty much a challenge to them that if it’s not being done I’ll start playing other guys.”

 

Scott did not get specific about what players could see their playing time reduced if things don’t get better, but his strongest words came for the Lakers young players: Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell. […] “Our young guys got to continue to develop and they will,” he said. “They got to get it a little bit quicker and as a coach you want them to get it now. But you also have to be realistic and understand you have a 19 (year-old) and a 20-year-old in your starting lineup that played one year of college basketball. So, it’s going to take those guys some time. Like I said I just got to continue to be patient. But like I told them, I’m not going to be patient for long. I expect guys to get it on both ends of the floor in a relatively quick manner.”

 

In order to win games on a consistent basis, the Lakers are going to need better performances from 37-year-old Kobe Bryant. Bryant is shooting just 32.3 percent from the field, and is on pace to shoot more significantly more 3-pointers than in any other season. […] “It’s not a challenge to get Kobe right,” he said. “The challenge is to get the young guys right. I’m not worried about him. He’s the last thing I’m worried about on our team.”

The post Byron Scott Won’t Be ‘Patient for Long’ With Young Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

Kobe has already said he’s willing to play small forward—something he points out that he’s done throughout his storied career—and thinks not having the ball in his hands so much will allow him to focus on more catch-and-shoot action within the offense.

Kobe didn't touch the ball when we saw him scrimmage. Kobe: "I don't think it matters, man. I don't have to handle the ball at all."

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 1, 2015

Bryant, 37, has been going hard during the first two days of the Lakers’ training camp in Honolulu, but claims that his offseason workouts were much more challenging.

Per the OC Register:

“I think the more those guys can play together, the better,” Scott said. “I’m going to try that out this first week, see how it goes and then I’ll start mixing and matching a little bit more. It looked good.”

 

Bryant at small forward was not so much a surprise as it was strange to see. Scott has frequently discussed giving Bryant time on the wing, which in theory could reduce the amount of strain required for him to get open shots. […] “I don’t have to handle the ball really at all,” Bryant said. “Gives me more time to catch and shoot.”

 

He said having Russell and Clarkson on the court makes his job simpler. […] “These guys can handle the ball and make incredible decisions and make plays,” he said. “Makes it a lot easier.”

The post Kobe Bryant Plans to Be More of a ‘Catch and Shoot’ Player appeared first on SLAM.

Vitti, who joined the team in 1984, says he informed Kobe Bryant this summer that he’ll be playing at the small forward spot due to the emergence of the Lakers’ young guards.

The Black Mamba, soon to turn 37, is ready for the new role.

Per the LA Times:

He’s been part of 12 trips to the NBA Finals, eight of them successful, and the players he took care of were as legendary as the franchise itself: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant among the many. […] When Vitti started with the Lakers in 1984, he was only slightly older than most players. “Now I’m old enough to be their fathers and some, I guess, even their grandfathers,” he said.

 

So much has happened the last few years, so little of it positive. Vitti even called it “a nightmare.” Few would disagree, the Lakers continually losing Bryant and Steve Nash to injury, along with a slew of games. […] “When somebody gets hurt, I blame myself. That’s the Laker way — you’ve got a problem, you go in the bathroom, you look in the mirror, you start with that person,” Vitti said. “The one that really affected me and maybe even affected this decision [to retire] was Julius Randle. All of his doctors and his surgeon are saying that nothing was missed, but the guy goes out there and breaks his leg the first game [last season]. That one really bothered me.”

 

Vitti is often an emissary between players and management. He recently met up with Bryant, with whom he shares a longtime bond. “He was asking about our young kids, and I said, ‘You cannot believe how quick and athletic Jordan Clarkson is. He looks fantastic,'” Vitti said. “I said I personally thought D’Angelo Russell is going to be a star. He makes hard things look easy when he has the ball in his hands. […] “Then Kobe said to me, ‘Well, then who’s going to play [small forward]?’ I looked at him and I said, ‘You.’ And with absolute, 100% confidence, he said, ‘I can do that.'”

The post Kobe Bryant Ready to Play Small Forward: ‘I Can Do That’ appeared first on SLAM.

Unfortunately, Clarkson struggled to find his shot (12 points, 6-15 FG), and L.A. lost 84-78 despite 21 points from D’Angelo Russell.

The post Jordan Clarkson Throws Down Poster Dunk on Jack Cooley (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

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Clarkson hit a baseline floater with .7 to go in the extra session.

Clarkson led the way for the Lakers with a game-high 26 points and eleven dimes.

Per the LA Daily News:

But when the NBA Draft lottery takes place on May 19, Clarkson’s game could also explain why the Lakers (20-53) ended possibly their worst season in franchise history without a lottery pick as a consolation prize. […] “I don’t pay attention to that,” Clarkson said. “We don’t come into the game and say, ‘We need to lose.’ We’re competing hard.”

 

The Lakers have usually shown that all season, but losses have still piled up amid an injury-ravaged lineup. Hence, the Lakers have the NBA’s fourth-worst record, boast a 10.5 percent chance to nab a No. 1 pick and face an 82.5 percent likelihood in retaining their top five that is otherwise owed to Philadelphia as part of the Steve Nash trade with Phoenix. […] But the Lakers have a three-game cushion over the Sixers (18-57) for the league’s third-worst record, which would give the Lakers a 15.6 percent chance to secure the top pick and 96 percent chances in keeping their pick. The Lakers also are 4 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota (16-58) and 6 1/2 games over New York (14-60) with nine games remaining.

 

“I don’t care about that,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “It’s all about trying to get better as a basketball team and trying to win games. Whatever happens after that happens. We can’t control that. But one thing we can control is how hard we play.”

The post Jordan Clarkson Hits Game-Winner to Beat the Sixers (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

From the season opener to now, the Celtics look like a completely different team as the majority of their original roster has been traded away. However, one of the team’s constants in Avery Bradley (30 points, 8 rebounds, 12-23 from the field) came through in a major way to keep Boston right in the thick of the playoff race. The Celtics guard had a solid game on both ends of the floor, really being a pest in multiple ways for Kemba Walker (28 points, 12 assists, 9-20 from the field) and Gerald Henderson (17 points, 6 fouls). Bradlet got plenty of help on the offensive end of the floor as six Celtics players reached double figures. Boston has plenty of flaws as this team is still eight games under .500, but since Isaiah Thomas (10 points, 7 assists) joined the roster, they have had quality balance almost every night. Evan Turner (15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 7-11 from the field) has become the team’s most versatile player, fitting in many different lineups. Gerald Wallace (4 points, 5 rebounds) even showed a flash of his younger self against his former team. Monday against the Hornets, the Celtics shot the ball efficiently, quickly moved the ball from one side of the court to the other and kept their turnovers down. That is enough of a recipe to sneak into the playoffs in the East.

Lakers 113 (20-53), 76ers 111 (18-57) OT

At this point in the season, both these (tanking) teams are looking to build their young players and build some sort of momentum going into next season. For the Lakers, Jordan Clarkson (26 points, 11 assists, 3 steals) continued to be that momentum in a big way Monday night. With the game tied 111-111 in overtime after budding rookie center Nerlens Noel (19 points, 14 rebounds) scored seven straight points for Philly, the former Mizzou Tiger in Clarkson snuck backdoor, received a pass from Wayne Ellington (20 points, 4-6 on 3-pointers) and lofted in the game-winning basket with 0.7 seconds left on the clock. Clarkson started this season as a backup point guard who would have to earn his way onto the court. He has certainly done that of late and has also taken ownership of L.A.’s offense. His former college teammate in Jabari Brown (career-high 22 points, 7-10 from the field, 3-4 on 3-pointers) got in on the action and reached the 20-point plateau himself with three treys. Even though Brown still has to show he can perform at this level for more than one game and Clarkson has a long way to go until he can be considered a legitimate starting point guard in the NBA, these two put on a show for one night in a down-to-the-wire overtime victory.

Hawks 101 (56-18), Bucks 88 (36-38)

The Hawks entered this game losers of four of their last six. However, they vamped up perimeter defense and handed the Bucks yet another loss as they continue to wade in mediocrity. This team had so much going for them when Brandon Knight was still on the squad. Since the the departure of Knight and acquisition of Michael Carter-Williams (4 points, 5 assists, 4 turnovers), Milwaukee can’t seem to find its identity and is falling dangerously close to the No. 7 seed if things continue to decline. The Hawks, though, received some big games from “Junkyard Dog” DeMarre Carroll (23 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks) and sharpshooter Kyle Korver (11 points, 5 assists, 3-9 on 3-pointers). Korver drilled four deep shots on four consecutive possessions in the third quarter. He had 11 points in 65 seconds, to be exact. These two wingmen have great balance in the starting lineup, bring a lot of different qualities on both ends of the court. Al Horford (18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Paul Millsap (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals) have also established great chemistry and showed it Monday night. During Milwaukee’s recent struggles, Zaza Pachulia (17 points, 13 rebounds) has quietly been putting up quality double-double numbers and been a force down low. The Bucks simply have lost their defensive intensity, giving up at least 100 points in six of their past seven games.

Raptors 99 (44-30), Rockets 96 (50-24)

The Raptors entered Monday’s game on the verge of going into the playoffs on a very bad note. If they had lost to the Rockets, they would have begun the postseason on April 18 without a win against a winning team since February 20. That will not be the case because DeMar DeRozan (42 points, 11 rebounds, 14-27 from the field) decided to unleash the best game of his career in a entertaining duel between the former USC Trojan and MVP candidate James Harden (31 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds). These two shooting guards—who both grew up in the Los Angeles area—went back-and-forth all night and gave Raptors fans at Air Canada Centre a great show. DeRozan, though, elevated his play with 6:09 left in the fourth quarter. With the game knotted at 85-85 with neither team leading by more than four points up to that point in the quarter, DeRozan scored 10 of his team’s final 14 points, including a go-ahead bank shot with just over a minute remaining and a pull-up jumper with 18.8 seconds left to seal the victory. Before DeRozan went into take-over mode, Jonas Valanciunas (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks) and Lou Williams (13 points, 5 assists, 3-6 on 3-pointers) provided just enough offensive support to help keep Toronto in this game. Valanciunas set the tone early on the defensive end of the floor by blocking two shots less than four minutes after the tipoff. Amir Johnson (8 points, 16 rebounds) snatched 16 boards and was a key factor in the Raptors outrebounding the Rockets 48-41. With the win, the fourth-seeded Raptors suddenly have some life in their play and might have the edge (for now) over the struggling fifth-seeded Wizards. Toronto also only trails the three-seeded Bulls by one game.

Grizzlies 97 (51-24), Kings 83 (26-47)

The Grizzlies broke their three-game losing streak and took back the No. 2 seed in the West thanks to strong play from Mike Conley (18 points) and Jeff Green (16 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds) along with a ripped jersey from Marc Gasol (8 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals). Memphis quickly jumped out to a 16-5 lead within the first six minutes and wouldn’t relinquish the lead the rest of the game. With DeMarcus Cousins getting the night off, Rudy Gay (24 points, 10-18 from the field) attempted to carry the entire offense and brought the Kings back at certain points. However, the Grizzlies’ stout defense was too much for the undermanned Kings to (attempt to) attack for a full 48 minutes. Sacramento only scored 19 points in the final quarter. Zach Randolph (15 points, 7 rebounds) contributed 15 points and Kosta Koufos (8 points, season-high 12 rebounds, 3 blocks) helped Memphis swat a season-high 11 blocks, which was one of the key difference-makers Monday night.

Jazz 104 (33-41), Timberwolves 84 (16-58)

Gordon Hayward (22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals), Trey Burke (19 points, 6 rebounds) and Trevor Booker (17 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks) led the way offensively in Utah’s 20-point blowout over the Timberwolves. Zach LaVine (21 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) led Minnesota in scoring and showed some promise during stretches. However, the story of this game has to be the battle that ensued between Andrew Wiggins’ (17 points, 5 rebounds) hops and Rudy Gobert’s (15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks) absurd reach in the second quarter. At the 8:48 mark in the first, Wiggins started things off with a power dunk on Gobert. Then in the second with 4:52 left before halftime, Wiggins challenged the Stifle Tower again and finished another hammer slam against the blocking machine. This time, the Rookie of the Year candidate finished the dunk with a roar to his crowd. But just 34 seconds later, on Wiggins’ third attempt at posterizing Gobert, the Jazz big man stuffed Wiggins and gave his own howl after the rejection. These two made an otherwise insignificant matchup turn into a wildly entertaining affair for a short period. While the Jazz managed to shoot 47.6 percent from the field, the Timberwolves only shot 36.8 percent.

Blazers 109 (48-25), Suns 86 (38-37)

Damian Lillard (19 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds), LaMarcus Aldridge (17 points, 7 rebounds) and the Blazers clinched a playoff spot Monday night by copying the Warriors’ third-quarter mastery. After Portland built up an early 53-37 lead with 3:34 to go before halftime, Marcus Morris (11 points, 5-8 from the field) converted an alley-oop, slammed one home and made a layup as his Suns went on a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to six points at the half. Even though Phoenix seemed to have the momentum going into the third quarter, Lillard and Aldridge came out on a mission to put away the Suns for good…and they did just that. Behind 18 third-quarter points from this duo, the Blazers sprinted out to a 92-65 lead by the end of the third as they outscored the Suns 37-16 during those 12 minutes. Phoenix had six players in double figures, but none of them had more than 13 points. With the trade-deadline departure of Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas, the engine that made this Suns team run is gone and there has been no replacement because of Brandon Knight’s injury. The Blazers have now won four straight games and seem to be finding their groove despite the absence of Wes Matthews. The Suns, on the other hand, are going in the wrong direction and will soon be eliminated from the playoffs at this rate.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young and rookie Jordan Clarkson were Kobe Bryant’s victims Thursday, on the third day of training camp.

Bean ate both guys up on the court, and let them know all about it.

Kobe says the chirping is good for competition.

Kobe's comment to Jordan Clarkson after hitting his 3rd straight jumper: "Don't hurt yourself!"

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 2, 2014

Per the LA Daily News:

Moments after drawing a foul on Nick Young, Bryant chirped, “Don’t play with me Nick. You ain’t strong enough.” Later on, Bryant sank a fade-away jumper over second-round draft pick Jordan Clarkson, a sequence that nearly made him fall to the ground. Chided Bryant: “Don’t hurt yourself young fella.”

 

“We’re competing. We really try to push each other, especially when we get tired,” Bryant said. “When guys are talking trash back and forth, you can’t help but play at your best.”

 

It appeared Bryant reserved his sharp tongue mostly for Young, who went up against him one-on-one in several sequences. After Bryant drew a foul, Young pleaded to the official, “don’t feed into that and reward him just because he’s Kobe Bryant.” When Young continued talking trash during one of Bryant’s foul shots, the Lakers’ star said, “not to me you don’t.” […] “He playfully does it. But then I take it to another level,” Bryant said of Young. “I do it because like I said, when you’re tired, it’s very easy to go through the motions. But when somebody is talking to you, you have no choice but to perform.”

The post Kobe Bryant Mercilessly Trash Talks His Teammates (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

After wowing people at the NBA Draft Combine, Clarkson reminded people once again of one of the top guard prospects in the class. It’s not surprising to his trainer Jay Hernandez, who has worked with Kemba Walker, Tobias Harris and Michael Carter-Williams, among other stars.

“Jordan is a real talent. His combination of skills, size and athleticism are as good as you will see in a PG in this Draft. He’s willing to put in the work and he is willing to listen,” Hernandez said. “That mixture, with his natural gifts, will allow him to have a long run in the NBA, at arguably the toughest position.”

Clarkson’s season took a noticeable dip once he learned that his hero, his father Mike, was diagnosed with cancer. The second half of the season, Clarkson struggled in shooting the basketball and his three-point shooting percentage tanked, concerning scouts about his ability to stretch the defense on the next level. Clarkson transitioned to point guard at Missouri after having played the position some at Tulsa.

He still remained the Tigers’ best option to score and that came at the expense of his assist-to-turnover ratio. Most scouts see him as a combo guard more than a true point guard.

We caught up with Clarkson to get some insight to what makes this unheralded prospect from San Antonio tick.

SLAM: When did you start to think you could be pretty good?

Jordan Clarkson: After the sit-out year at Missouri, and practicing every day. Then, that summer going to Chris Paul Camp and performing against the other college guys.

SLAM: Tell us about the adjustment from playing at Tulsa to Missouri.

JC: One of my reasons for transferring was to play in a BCS conference—in the SEC. I felt I developed my game and did well. (Clarkson was named Second-Team All-SEC.—Ed.)

SLAM: This was an interesting season at Missouri, which started with a lot of high hopes and ended abruptly.

JC: We had a decent year, started out with high expectations. Unfortunately we had our ups and downs, we hit bumps in the road, between off-the-court issues with some players and family. In the end, I was proud about how we did considering the adversity we dealt with.

SLAM: Your family has dealt with health issues recently. How have you managed to stay focused?

JC: You use basketball as an outlet and try not to let that stuff affect you on the floor. I took it in stride. My dad is back home now and doing good. His therapy started and he’s getting back to walking. I want to do this for him. My dad is my hero. When my brother and I were younger, anything he could do for us in our home situation, he did. He’s the real motivation to me, I’m trying to do this for him and my family.

SLAM: The decision to leave Missouri and enter the Draft, what was the process?

JC: It was a tough decision leaving Missouri. I spoke with my mom and the rest of my family and I felt like I was ready to take the step to the next level. My work ethic is never going to change; I have a different hunger than most of those guys. I have a chip on my shoulder any time on the court, by myself or at a workout. I try to go hard. I know I wasn’t heavily recruited or played in big all-star games. I feel I have to prove myself to people every time out on the court.

SLAM: What are you doing to prepare for the Draft?

JC: Working real hard, out in Long Island with Jay Hernandez from Pro Hoops. I’m working every day in the gym, twice per day.

SLAM: What do you think you can do on the floor for an NBA team?

JC: I bring defensive versatility. I can guard three positions, anyone on the perimeter. I can score the basketball; either to the basket, through my mid-range game or beyond the arc. I’m able to make my teammates better. I can create shots for them.

SLAM: What areas of your game have you been working on since leaving school?

JC: Keeping my jump shot consistent. Critics had felt I was right hand dominant—I can go left now. I’m working hard on improving my left hand finishing moves.

SLAM: What position are you hoping to play at the next level?

JC: I’m a point guard, first and foremost. I played it last season and some at Tulsa, but I can score the basketball, so I’m comfortable playing off the ball.

SLAM: People question your three-point shooting ability (28 percent this season). Is that fair?

JC: To a certain extent. I shot it well at Tulsa, I just had an off year shooting this season at Missouri. I had some mechanical issues that developed with my release and my hips. I have watched a lot of film after the season to improve it. I’m a scorer first and a shooter second.

SLAM: Any player that you try to emulate your game after?

JC: I watch a lot of Russell Westbrook, George Hill, Devin Harris, Chris Paul and take a little from each.

SLAM: Finish this sentence: Your coach at Missouri, Frank Haith, is…

JC: Great guy, great coach. I talked a lot to him throughout the season. He was always there for me. He knew that I was going through a tough time and he helped me through it.

SLAM: Toughest player you have played against?

JC: Tobias Harris, Orlando Magic. His size and ability to make shots.

SLAM: Best player you have played with?

JC: Andre Roberson, Thunder…Colorado. My high school teammate. He was a great teammate, he did everything. He can score the ball and he is a rebound machine.

SLAM: What is your message for those trying to follow in your footsteps?

JC: Work hard every day. Get in the gym, accept criticism and use it as motivation.

SLAM: Anything else you want people to know about you?

JC: I’m part Filipino and I’m looking to be the first or one of the first Filipino-Americans to play in the NBA. I know the country is backing me. I hope to be able to visit there in the future.

SLAM: What’s your get-hype song?

JC: “They Don’t Love You No More” by DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Jay Z.

SLAM: Which teams have you worked out with so far?

JC: Miami and Chicago so far, with more upcoming.

The post Making His Point appeared first on SLAM.

Not only does CP3 Elite Guard Camp serve as a chance to watch the nation’s top lead guards from the high school and college levels, but it also serves as a coaching clinic of sorts. The game’s top point guard, Chris Paul, took a hands-on approach and revealed a number of his secrets that allowed him to become the master of his craft. CP3 emphasized angles, change of pace and timing throughout the three-day event, with the namesake himself placing a major emphasis on D.

“I can’t guard most of you guys. Well, except PJ [Hairston],” the Clippers’ star said with a chuckle. “I’m not that quick, but the game of defense is easy once you figure out the angles.”

The players partook in five sessions that stressed pick and roll actions, finishes at the cup and opposite hand work. The game’s elite lead guards use the same drills each summer to hone their craft, giving campers invaluable learning experiences to take back to their respective colleges or high schools.

Learning aside, here are a few of the top college players who stood out during the weekend in Winston-Salem:

Jordan Clarkson, 6-5, SG, Missouri, Junior

Scouts and high school campers alike were puzzled when they saw Jordan Clarkson’s name with ‘Missouri’ listed next to it on the roster. You see, he attended Missouri last year, but didn’t play a game having transfered from Tulsa. Well, Frank Haith got himself a good one. Well built at 6-5 and around 210 pounds, there weren’t many players at CP3 who could match up physically with Clarkson. He used his strength to finish through defenders, but also had the offensive skill level to create his own shot and then finish acrobatically at the rim. Look for Clarkson to be one of the better wings in a loaded SEC this upcoming season.

Shabazz Napier, 6-1, PG, UConn, Senior

In terms of straight getting buckets, there was no one better than Napier. He was shifty, drilled deep three-pointers, and was downright fearless on the court. He was able to create space on anyone who checked him, CP3 included. Posting legit numbers throughout his entire college career, it’s now time for Napier to continue to improve as a playmaker to sure up his NBA stock.

Devon Saddler, 6-2, PG, Delaware, Senior

You couldn’t help but see a little Isaiah Canaan in his game. He’s well built at 205 pounds with super broad shoulders, bouncing off of defenders en route to the rim. Having put up huge numbers at Delaware last year, Saddler created his own shot with the best of them and will clearly have a target on his back as Delaware moves to the A-10 for the ’13-14 campaign.

Briante Weber, 6-3, PG, VCU, Junior

A guy who I admittedly did not know much about coming in, Weber was the best defender at the camp, combining max effort with length and athleticism. Once the live action started, Briante finished with both hands at the cup, hit a few mid-range Js, and shut down the dunk contest with his bounce windmill. There may not have been a player who helped himself more in the eyes of NBA scouts in Winston-Salem than Weber.

Joe Jackson, 6-0, PG, Memphis, Senior

Finishing off the season super strong at Memphis, Jackson is a player who seems to be accepting a new role. Donned the ‘King of Memphis’ during his high school days, Jackson was always known as a scoring machine. Overcoming some bumps initially for the Tigers, he rebounded and led the team to the C-USA chip. At CP3, he showed off his blazing quicks, hustled, and hit threes on a consistent basis. Expectations are high for the White Station product during his final campaign, as a legit year could send him to the League.

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