Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson says he wasn’t thinking about roles, numbers, or contracts when choosing to sign with the New York Knicks — it all came down to energy. Clarkson mentioned how it was the energy at Madison Square Garden that drew him into moving to New York. He’s looking forward to the sweet ecstasy that he’ll soon receive once he suits up for the Knicks in the 2025-26 season.
“The arena, honestly. Feeling the energy from the fans,” Clarkson explain on The Roomates podcast with new teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. “Knowing they’re going to let you have it. But when you’re playing great, it’s all love. At the end of the day, I just want to feel the energy. Get to play with y’all.”
He said this after finalizing his buyout with the Utah Jazz, as his agent, Rich Paul, asked him where he wanted to go. Sitting at Wimbledon, Clarkson didn’t hesitate and said:
“I said, ‘I wanna come to New York.’ It all happened in two minutes. Then I was a Knick.”
What Jordan Clarkson hopes to add to the Knicks & his track record
Jordan Clarkson averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds over 37 games with the Utah Jazz last season, shooting nearly 50% from the field and 36.2% from deep. He’s no stranger to making an impact off the bench, considering that he was the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year, the first in Jazz history. Now suiting up for the New York Knicks next season, Clarkson unveiled his intentions on what he plans to do playing for his new team.
“Y’all been doing great things over here,” Clarkson said. “I just want to come in here and enhance what y’all got going on.”
Clarkson joins the Knicks after a season that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, only to fall in six games to the Indiana Pacers. With new head coach Mike Brown in charge and additions like Guerschon Yabusele also coming in, the Knicks’ style and culture seem to appeal to him. Clarkson wants to be more than just a scorer; he wants to bring energy and elevate a team that is already trending upward.
