Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Jordan Clarkson. AP
LOS ANGELES—Like most nights this season, this was one Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson would rather forget.
A lackadaisical second-half performance by the Lakers lead to another blowout loss, this time to the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving Clarkson somber as he slipped into his brown leather boots inside the dugout at Staples Center late Wednesday night.
But in a season where success has been few and far between, Clarkson is sticking to positives, knowing that his fan base back in the Philippines has grown following his interest to represent the country in international basketball.
“I’m getting experience and playing time,” Clarkson, whose mother Annette hails from Pampanga, told the Inquirer in a brief chat after the Lakers’ 85-120 loss to the Thunder.
“I’m trying to find as many positives as I can through this tough season, and getting the opportunity to play in the league (NBA) is just a blessing.”
Clarkson finished with 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting and also grabbed six rebounds in 31 minutes. But he could do little to stop Russell Westbrook, the driving force of the Thunder’s searing third quarter run, who finished with 23 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.
The performance was below Clarkson’s standards for the season where he is averaging just over 15 points an outing, just behind Kobe Bryant as the team’s leading scorer.
“I’m just trying to keep progressing and keep improving,” said Clarkson.
Clarkson said he is relishing time on the floor with Bryant who is retiring at the end of the season.
“It’s cool,” said Clarkson of playing alongside Bryant, a 20-year veteran and a five-time NBA champion. “It’s just a great experience when I look at it and seeing his time coming to an end but also playing with him.”
Clarkson remains hopeful he can suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the Olympic wildcard qualifiers next year, although a cloud of doubt remains on both his availability and eligibility.
The 6-foot-5 guard still needs clearance from world governing body Fiba, the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers before he can play for Gilas in one of the three qualifying tournaments in July that will reward berths to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The Philippines is actually bidding to host the qualifying tournament.
“I appreciate the support (from the Philippines),” said Clarkson. “Hopefully, you will see me in the summertime and we can do a little something. I’m not sure, but we have to figure out with Fiba, but we will figure it out soon.”