Jordan Clarkson fulfilled his goal of winning the NBA Sixth of the Man Year, but not before getting a big surprise from the man he beat for the award.
Clarkson and Utah Jazz teammate Joe Ingles were in the middle of an interview with TNT’s Inside the NBA when the latter brought out and personally handed the Sixth Man of the Year trophy to the Fil-American super sub.
The two shared a warm embrace, showing how supportive was Ingles who came to the interview wearing a grey Clarkson shirt.
It was the first major individual award for Clarkson, who found his niche in Salt Lake City after stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
“For me, it was tough. My first couple years because I started in LA. during that time, but just coming to myself and trying to find the impact I can have in this game, and what I can bring to it,” Clarkson told the popular Inside the NBA crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.
“When I got that role, I just kind of took it, worked at it, and this situation — being traded here to Utah from Cleveland — it really enhanced everything, just because everybody knows their role and knows what they are doing,” added Clarkson.
Clarkson earned the nod of sportswriters and broadcasters by receiving 65 first-place votes and 407 total points while Ingles came in second with 272 points (34 first-place votes).
New York’s Derrick Rose finished third with 77 points (one first-place vote).
my brother https://t.co/Grsir8BeqG
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) May 25, 2021
He was the highest-scoring reserve this season with an average of 18.3 points while hitting a career-best 208 triples during the campaign that saw the Jazz top the Western Conference with a 52-20 record.
The Jazz, however, lost Game 1 of their Western Conference first round playoff series to the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, 112-109, the other day.