Jordan Clarkson’s Move to the Knicks

Jordan Clarkson found himself at Wimbledon, watching Carlos Alcaraz play, when his agent, Rich Paul, posed a pivotal question: “Where do you want to go?” Clarkson responded without hesitation, saying, “I want to come to New York.” Just like that, Paul reached out to the Knicks, and within a couple of minutes, Clarkson found himself signed with the team.

This revelation came during a live taping of “The Roommates” podcast, co-hosted by his new teammates, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, in front of a crowd of passionate Knicks fans at Central Park. It was Clarkson’s first public mention of his new role since he joined the Knicks on a minimum contract back in July.

Clarkson shared his excitement about picking New York, especially after transitioning from the Jazz. The appeal? The atmosphere. “I feel the energy from the fans,” he explained. “If you’re not playing well, they’ll let you know, but when you are, it’s all positivity. I just want to soak it all in.” He expressed eagerness to play alongside Brunson and Hart.

Fans in Central Park chanted his name, drawing a contrast to his previous experiences in Salt Lake City. Hart chimed in about the vibrant crowd at Madison Square Garden, highlighting, “The Garden has an incredible atmosphere… It’s definitely different from Utah. Our fans have a bit more flavor!”

Brunson added that the three of them had hinted at working together before it officially happened, though he kept the timing under wraps. “We talked about this a while ago,” he said.

With 11 years in the NBA, Clarkson is now among the most experienced players on the Knicks roster. He’s expected to contribute as a key scoring option off the bench, a role he excelled in when he won the Sixth Man of the Year award with the Jazz in 2021. This time around, it’s a new chapter for him after a season cut short by injury, where he only played 36 games.

Despite the uncertainties, Clarkson seems thrilled about his new opportunity. “You guys are doing great things here with the Knicks,” he commented on the team’s aspirations, especially after their recent success in reaching the conference finals. “I just want to add to that.” The Knicks had also made notable moves during the offseason, including a coaching change, although that wasn’t a topic during the event.

The podcast featured other guests, including Jamal Crawford, Eli Manning, and Ben Stiller, and spanned various topics, from team dynamics to NBA controversies. Hart even joked about there being a “scandal” involving Kawhi Leonard, as recent reports suggested potential issues concerning salary cap compliance with the Clippers.

Crawford, who was the second guest after Manning, announced he wouldn’t be returning to the MSG network next season, transitioning to NBC as an analyst. He filled in for Clyde Frazier last year, who, at 80, is still planning to return but has reduced his workload recently. NBC is also bringing in high-profile personalities like Carmelo Anthony and Michael Jordan as contributors.