Last Updated on July 22, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Jordan Clarkson is an explosive combo guard whose ability to create his own shot and score in bursts has made him one of the NBA’s most dangerous offensive weapons. A former Sixth Man of the Year, he has built a reputation as an instant-impact scorer capable of changing the momentum of a game the moment he steps onto the floor.

Here are the details on Jordan Clarkson:

  • Full Name: Jordan Taylor Clarkson
  • Nickname: Flame Thrower
  • Nationality: American (born in Tampa, Florida)
  • Height: 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters)
  • Weight: 210 pounds (95 kg)
  • Shoe Size: 14 (US)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters)
  • Shoes Worn: Nike Book 1, Converse All Star BB Shift, Nike Kyrie Low 3, Nike Zoom Freak 1, Nike Kobe AD Exodus, Nike Kobe AD Mid, Nike Kyrie 3, Nike Kobe 10, Nike LeBron 13, Nike Kyrie 2, Nike LeBron 9, Air Jordan 10 Retro, Air Jordan 11 Retro, Air Jordan 8 Retro, Air Jordan 7 Retro, Air Jordan 6 Retro.
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
  • Draft: Selected 46th overall in the 2nd round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
  • DOB: Born June 7, 1992
  • University: Missouri Tigers (University of Missouri)
  • High School: Karen Wagner High School in San Antonio, Texas
  • Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
  • Siblings: Bear Clarkson
  • Kids: One daughter, named Cali
  • Net Worth: Made $112,100,024 in the NBA
  • Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz

Jordan Clarkson’s player archetype is an instant-offense combo guard whose greatest value comes from creating shots against set defenses and changing the rhythm of a game off the bench or in a featured scoring role. Quick, agile, and comfortable finishing through traffic, he attacks with an unpredictable handle, pull-up shooting, and creative finishes around the basket. Clarkson competes defensively but is primarily relied upon to generate points, whether by breaking down defenders one-on-one or catching fire from the perimeter. His confidence as a scorer allows him to manufacture offense when possessions stall, making him one of the NBA’s most dangerous microwave scorers.

Scouting Report

Jordan Clarkson has always looked most comfortable when a possession becomes slightly disorganized. That’s where his creativity takes over. Give him a defender who loses balance for half a step and he’ll string together hesitations, crossovers, and abrupt changes of pace until he finds enough room for a pull-up or a twisting finish at the rim. The first thing you notice isn’t overwhelming speed but how unpredictably he changes rhythm. Defenders struggle to time him because he rarely attacks at one pace for long. He can operate in pick-and-rolls, but he’s often hunting his own scoring window rather than manipulating the entire defense, and that’s both his greatest strength and the trade-off. When help commits late, he’ll make the obvious kick-out or pocket pass, but his instinct is to finish the possession himself if he believes he has even a narrow advantage. Off the ball, he’s more effective than people sometimes acknowledge because he relocates into open pockets and gets his shot off quickly without needing perfect balance. Defensively, his effort tends to rise when he’s engaged in the matchup, and he has quick enough hands to bother ball handlers or jump passing lanes, but he can lose focus away from the ball, arriving a step late on low-man rotations or giving cutters too much separation while anticipating the next offensive trip. Put him alongside a structured primary playmaker who consistently bends the defense first, and his game opens up because he can attack scrambling defenders instead of carrying every creation responsibility himself. To me, there are similarities to Lou Williams in the way he manufactures offense from broken possessions, while his willingness to fire difficult pull-up jumpers and embrace microwave scoring moments also resembles Jamal Crawford. What stands out, though, is Clarkson’s confidence. Some scorers become hesitant after a difficult stretch. His approach barely changes, and that unwavering belief is a large part of what makes him capable of swinging a game in just a few possessions.

Notes:

  • Jordan Clarkson’s height in shoes is approximately 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters). He is officially listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters) barefoot.
  • Jordan Clarkson’s playing weight is listed at approximately 194 pounds (88 kilograms).
  • Jordan Clarkson started his NBA career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and played alongside Kobe Bryant for two seasons. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers the season after Kobe retired.
  • Jordan Clarkson is a known sneakerhead who has a long history of wearing Nike basketball shoes, though he also wore some Converse kicks as well. Clarkson has worn numerous Jordans in basketball games. The most recent was the pair of Air Jordan 10 Retro. The most unusual pair I have seen Clarkson wear are the Nike Kobe 10s which had an extremely high top.

Player Insights

Jordan Clarkson began his NBA career playing alongside Kobe Bryant. A lot was expected of him as Kobe wanted to contend for more titles before retiring. Clarkson was impressive as a rookie and finished the 2014-15 7th in voting for Rookie Of The Year. He won Sixth Man Of The Year in 2020-21 playing for the Utah Jazz. 8/13/2024