NEW YORK, NY – The New York Knicks announced today the signing of veteran guard Jordan Clarkson, adding a proven scorer and dynamic playmaker to their backcourt rotation.
Clarkson, 33, brings over a decade of NBA experience and a reputation as one of the league’s most prolific bench scorers. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound guard appeared in 37 games (nine starts) for the Utah Jazz last season, averaging 16.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game.
Over his 11-year NBA career, Clarkson has played in 753 games (231 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Utah Jazz, posting career averages of 16.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 27.7 minutes per contest. He has amassed 8,045 points off the bench—ranking 11th all-time and first among active players. Since 2020, he leads the NBA in bench scoring with 4,589 points, outpacing the next closest player by 707 points.
Clarkson’s scoring prowess off the bench is historic. He has recorded four games with 40 or more points as a reserve, the second-most in NBA history, and has notched 30+ points off the bench in 17 games—tied for fifth all-time. His career-high performance came on March 12, 2022, when he erupted for 45 points on 71.4% shooting, along with two assists, one steal, and one block against Sacramento. That feat made him just the fourth player since the 1979–80 season to score 45+ points on at least 70% shooting off the bench.
Originally selected 46th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, the Tampa, Florida native began his professional career with the Lakers after a draft-night trade. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2015, averaging 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 59 games (38 starts).
Clarkson enjoyed a career-best season in 2022–23, averaging 20.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 61 games (all starts) for the Jazz. He earned the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2021, becoming the first Jazz player to receive the honor, after averaging 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 68 games (one start).
Before entering the NBA, Clarkson played collegiately at Missouri and Tulsa, finishing his NCAA career with averages of 15.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 93 games (75 starts). He earned Second-Team All-SEC honors in 2014, First-Team All-Conference USA in 2012, and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team in 2011.
