“It was pretty chill, honestly,” Clarkson said of his summer.
asserted
Clarkson → say → summer
“I knew I wanted to come back here, so it was easy.”
asserted
it → know → ?
No other meetings or offers were considered by Clarkson or his representative, Rich Paul.
asserted
meetings → consider → Clarkson
“We really didn’t listen to anything else,” the guard said.
asserted
guard → listen → anything
“I told my agent and everybody that I wanted to come back here, and if the money situation worked out, I wanted to come back.
asserted
I → tell → agent
It worked out for a second straight year, as the unrestricted free agent signed a veteran-minimum deal with the Knicks.
asserted
agent → work → Knicks
In 2025, he first had to negotiate a buyout with the Utah Jazz and agreed to the Knicks deal while attending Wimbledon.
asserted
he → have → Wimbledon
This time, Clarkson’s one-year, $3.9 million deal arrived later in free agency — July 9 — but without much surprise.
asserted
deal → arrive → surprise
The Knicks, according to sources, appreciated his locker-room presence.
uncertain
Knicks → accord → presence
Even if Clarkson doesn’t play, he’s encouraging his teammates, getting along with everybody, going with the flow.
asserted
he → play → flow
That’s not always the case with veterans who are suddenly faced with dips in opportunities — especially those with Clarkson’s resume.
asserted
who → ’ → resume
He ranks seventh in the NBA in all-time bench points and needs just 39 more to surpass No. 6 Thurl Bailey.
asserted
He → rank → Bailey
Sacrificing with grace will probably be important again this season for Clarkson, who is part of a crowded backcourt with no guarantee of playing time.
asserted
who → sacrifice → time
Barring a trade, the Knicks have Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Miles McBride above Clarkson on the depth chart.
asserted
Knicks → bar → chart
But Clarkson can separate himself as a longer body — he’s 6-foot-5 — who can press the ball handler on defense and sometimes create a shot for himself.
asserted
who → separate → himself
The big difference, as Clarkson noted, is a clearer understanding of his fit.
asserted
Clarkson → note → fit
Whereas a year ago Clarkson was being sold a volume-scoring role off the bench, the 34-year-old now understands his path to playing time is geared toward defense and rebounding.
asserted
path → sell → defense
It took a benching to understand that last year.
asserted
It → take → that
Now he’s ready.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“I know it’s not my regular role that I’ve played before I got here,” Clarkson said.
asserted
Clarkson → know → that
“But it’s something I’ve fallen in love with, and I love playing my role and playing for this team and playing for each other.
asserted
I → ’ → other
I think that was the biggest thing last year that I’ve learned.”
asserted
I → think → that
Per 36 minutes, Clarkson averaged his fewest points and field goal attempts since he was a rookie in 2014-15.
asserted
he → average → 2014
What’s happening on and off the Garden court
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asserted
happening → happen → Sports+
Thank you
Defense was never part of Clarkson’s reputation — if anything, he was considered a negative on that side of the floor — but a transformation turned him into a rotational piece of an NBA champion.
asserted
transformation → thank → champion
Clarkson liked it so much he wants to do it again — even after averaging career lows in minutes, points and shot attempts.
asserted
he → like → minutes
“For us, it’s not about numbers.
asserted
it → ’ → numbers
It’s all about winning the game and doing anything to win the game,” Clarkson said.
asserted
Clarkson → ’ → game
“And I think a lot of us put things behind us to make that common goal happen.
asserted
goal → think → us
“And that’s from the coaching staff to everybody down the line.
asserted
that → ’ → line
I think we all got to understand on what it means to be a part of this team and a part of the Knicks.
asserted
it → think → Knicks
So I think that’s been set, and that’s why I wanted to come back.
asserted
I → think → ?
I love the standard.
asserted
I → love → standard
I love the culture here.”
asserted
I → love → culture
The Aporia
