With the Knicks finally at full strength, Jordan Clarkson’s playing time has disappeared.
He did not enter the Knicks’ historic 120-66 rout of the Nets on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden until the start of the fourth quarter for garbage time, with the Knicks already leading by 32.
That came after playing just two minutes in the blowout loss to the Mavericks on Monday.
“Yeah, it could be tough to get him in the rotation,” coach Mike Brown said. “Obviously Deuce [McBride] played well during his time, Mitch [Robinson] played well, Landry [Shamet] played at a pretty high level before he got hurt. So trying to find minutes for those guys as well as for our starting group is tough. I can’t even hit the minute threshold for all those guys that I’m looking for. It can be tough from time to time.”
Clarkson was signed this past offseason to be a key part of what was supposed to be an improved bench unit. But after a strong start to the season, he has struggled of late.
Clarkson averaged 20.2 minutes per game across the first 42 games before being effectively benched the last two.
“I read the room, I see what it is,” Clarkson said. “I’m just a vet, coming here, doing my work, staying ready. When I’m playing those minutes with the young guys, I ain’t taking nothing away from them. Being a pro, talking to them, trying to get them in their spots.
“Still play but I’m not gonna go in there and f–k the game up.
“I’m just gonna try to keep continuing to play the right way, help these guys grow and continue to get better. That’s all I can do.”
Clarkson said there wasn’t necessarily a conversation with Brown about the change, but that he wasn’t surprised.
He remains confident he can regain an important role.
“I can help any team in the league,” Clarkson said. “I help winning. You saw it early on in the year. I know I got a lot left in my tank. I can impact winning wherever. I’ll impact winning here. In the short time that I’ve been here, [we’re] winning games. Just gotta stay prepared and control what I can control.”
