Jordan Clarkson is staying in Utah.
Announced on Friday evening, the Jazz and Clarkson came to an agreement on a contract extension that will keep the high-scoring shooting guard in the snowcapped mountains of Salt Lake City for the foreseeable future.
“Signing Jordan to an extension was a priority for our organization this offseason,” said Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik. “Jordan’s incredible talent combined with his positivity and love for our community make him a truly special individual. We’re thrilled to keep him as a key part of our organization.”
“Jordan has been an integral piece in our team’s growth during his time here,” said CEO of Basketball Danny Ainge. “We’re looking forward to him continuing his tenure with our franchise.”
Often viewed as the heart and soul of the organization, Clarkson has loved his time in Utah and that joy has translated to the court. He was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year during the 2020-21 season, beating former Jazz teammate and then teammate Joe Ingles.
He’s averaged 17.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 27.9 minutes per game throughout his time with the Jazz. The numbers remained consistent throughout the postseason, averaging 17.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 27.8 minutes.
"Nothing will change who I am or how I play. … I'm always going to have fun playing,” Clarkson said.
Clarkson broke out last season when he emerged as a starter for Utah, averaging career-highs in points (20.8), assists (4.4), rebounds (4.0), and minutes (32.6) per game when he started all 61 games. He also moved into fifth all-time in Utah history in made three-pointers with 646.
"There's a lot of nights where we need Jordan's scoring, but I think he's done a really great job of trying to have a little bit of humility on the offensive end," head coach Will Hardy said. "It's hard to do what he does because there were so many possessions where we wanted him to shoot. … But it speaks to his growth and his buy-in on how we've asked him to play this season."
A fan-favorite, Clarkson has been beloved by Jazz Nation ever since he stepped onto the court. He’s embraced not only everything the state has to offer, but has served as an ambassador of the organization in multiple ways. He’s one of the more respected players in the league, sharing his love of Utah with everyone in the league.
His unique playing style combined with his charismatic personality and down-to-earth demeanor — not to mention on-court success — is why the fanbase is elated with his return.