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Mike Brown’s Praise For Jordan Clarkson Proves The Knicks Found Their Glue
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- Mike Brown’s Praise For Jordan Clarkson Proves The Knicks Found Their Glue
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Mike Brown just called Jordan Clarkson the ultimate team player, and that label carries heavy weight in today's NBA. The Knicks coach did not hold back his praise after a win over the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden. Brown told the press that Clarkson accepts a role most veterans would reject.
Clarkson has earned every bit of this high praise from his head coach. He sat out the game against the Pistons on Oct. 27, yet he came back ready to play. He thrived in the last three games while starters struggled to find their rhythm. According to reports, Clarkson can remain out of the rotation for extended periods and still perform seamlessly upon his return. That reliability is exactly what a championship team needs from its bench.
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The Veteran Who Says Yes
Most players want to start every night and feel important. Clarkson does not care about the spotlight as long as the team wins. Brown explained this dynamic clearly to the media on Tuesday. "You have a veteran that's been there, done that, and he's willing to accept the role that most guys wouldn't accept," Brown said, according to the New York Post .
Clarkson responded to the compliment with humility and focus on the group goal. He told reporters that he is just there to support the squad and help them reach their one shared goal. That goal is simply to win games. He praised Brown for bringing the group together and getting everyone to buy into the coach's system.
Building a Culture of Trust
Brown sees this behavior as the mark of the ultimate team player. He pointed out that Clarkson did the same thing last year and kept trying to connect everyone. Brown said, "If he's willing to accept it, which is what he did last year, and still try to uplift everybody and connect everybody while he's going through what he's going through, that's the ultimate team player."
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The Knicks have other stars like Jalen Brunson who are also buying in. Brunson even shared some fun news about his acting role on a TV show. He called his experience on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" really fun. When players are happy and trusting, the team becomes much harder to beat.
The real test will come when the schedule gets tough and the rotations get tight. Clarkson must keep accepting his role without complaining when minutes are limited.
