Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Finding Earl Clark at his best usually meant catching him in motion, sprinting the floor, sliding into open space, or using his length to erase passing angles before they fully developed. An American forward who played in the NBA, Clark built his career around transition scoring, switchable defensive coverage, active rebounding, and the mobility to contribute across multiple frontcourt roles without demanding the offense revolve around him.

Here’s the detailed information about Earl Clark:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Earl Rashad Clark
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born January 17, 1988
  • Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m)
  • Weight: 234 lbs (106 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m)
  • Shoe Size: Size 18 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 3, 6, 55, 7, and 13 during his career
  • Position: Power forward / Small forward
  • High School: Rahway High School (Rahway, New Jersey)
  • College: University of Louisville (2006–2009)
  • NBA Draft: 2009, Round 1, Pick 14 by the Phoenix Suns
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Phoenix Suns (2009–2010)
    2. Orlando Magic (2010–2012)
    3. Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2013)
    4. Cleveland Cavaliers (2013–2014)
    5. New York Knicks (2014)
    6. Memphis Grizzlies (2014)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Has children, though details are not widely disclosed
  • Siblings: Not publicly disclosed

Player Archetype / Play Style

Earl Clark’s player archetype was that of a versatile combo forward, a long 6-foot-10 frontcourt piece who could slide between forward spots and impact the game with mobility more than brute strength. Defensively, he fit best as a switchable help defender who could use his length around the lane, recover on the perimeter, and give coaches lineup flexibility, while offensively he was more of a complementary piece than a primary engine, working as a slasher, transition finisher, occasional face-up scorer, and secondary ball-mover. His physical traits stood out because he had uncommon size for a forward with fluid movement and real athletic ability, and his overall play style leaned toward versatility: he could rebound, run the floor, handle the ball a bit, and fill gaps on both ends without needing the offense built around him. (Basketball Reference)

Scouting Report

Earl Clark always felt like a player whose best possessions came when he was allowed to connect actions rather than finish them. The physical tools were obvious, but what interested me more was how comfortable he looked catching on the move, taking one or two dribbles and making the next play before the defence could reset. He could attack a closeout with long strides, finish above the rim when the lane opened and occasionally initiate from the elbow, where his height gave him clean sightlines over smaller defenders. There were stretches where he’d slip into a dribble handoff, pop into open space or hit a cutter after drawing the low man, and you could see why coaches kept searching for ways to unlock more of his game. The trade-off was consistency. His jumper wasn’t reliable enough to force hard closeouts every night, and his decision-making with the ball could drift, especially when he tried to create against a settled defence instead of keeping the possession flowing. Defensively, his length gave him genuine value. He covered ground quickly as a help defender, rotated from the weak side to challenge shots above the square and could survive short switches onto wings because he moved well enough to contain the first drive. That’s where he was most effective—reacting to the play rather than carrying the responsibility of organising the entire defence. Bigger centres could establish deep post position against him, while stronger forwards sometimes displaced him on the glass before he could use his reach. To me, Clark fit best as a complementary frontcourt piece in an up-tempo system with multiple creators, where he could run the floor, attack second-side advantages and defend across several matchups without being asked to manufacture offence from scratch. His game shared traits with Jeff Green in the way his versatility flashed in different areas from one night to the next, while there were also hints of Marvin Williams, particularly in how his size, mobility and skill set offered intriguing lineup flexibility even if his offensive identity never revolved around one dominant strength.

Fun Facts

  • Earl Clark was a versatile forward known for his size, athleticism, and ability to play multiple positions.
  • He had his best NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012–2013, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and minutes played.
  • After his NBA career, Clark played in various international leagues, including in China, Turkey, and the EuroLeague.
  • At Louisville, he was a standout player, earning All-Big East honors and leading the team to deep NCAA Tournament runs.
  • Clark remains active in professional basketball overseas and mentoring younger players.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Earl Clark Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
GoCards — University of Louisville Men’s Basketball Post-Game Quotes
NBA.com — Position Breakdown: Suns Power Forwards
Yahoo Sports — NBA mock draft 2009