Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Clarkson is criminally underrated

Jordan Clarkson is one of the most underrated bench players in the NBA, and it’s all to the benefit to the Los Angeles Lakers

Jordan Clarkson has established himself as one of the best bench players in the NBA. However, it still seems as though he is not given the credit that he absolutely deserves.

Even though he has averaged double figures in points for three straight seasons, will this finally be the year that his name is brought to prominence in the NBA world?

Through 13 games this season, Clarkson is averaging 14.8 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game in just 21.0 minutes of action. His playing time is actually at a career low, despite this being his fourth NBA season.

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These numbers aren’t much different from his career averages, but what jumps out is the fact that he is shooting a career-high from the field (50.3 percent) and a career high from 3-point range (39.5 percent).

The former second round pick back in 2014 had to work his tail off in order to establish himself in Los Angeles. He was an NBA All-Rookie First Team member, and since his first year, he has been super productive in a Lakers’ uniform. But why is Clarkson still underrated?

Perhaps it’s because the Lakers have won a total of 64 games in his first three seasons. When your team is not productive in the win column, your individual acknowledgement tends to go out the window.

"[via LA Times]“See, the big thing about that is, if we ain’t winning, I ain’t gonna be no Sixth Man of the Year,” Clarkson said. “Lou was averaging, what, close to 18, 19 last year. He wasn’t getting no terms of recognition for being sixth man of the year because we were losing. All that kind of comes to fruition. If I’m playing good off the bench, it’s going to help us win games. That’s the big thing.”"

Clarkson is well on his way to contending for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year this season, but the Lakers need to be winning, then the accolades and awards will follow. The young combo guard brings a spark off the bench for the Lakers every night.

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He is comfortable in his role, and can really score the basketball. The Los Angeles Lakers are finally exciting again. There is youth and star potential on this roster, but victories will ultimately give Clarkson the credit when it comes to being recognized with the best bench players in basketball.