Jordan Clarkson's Knicks Return Wouldn't Be Sensible Despite Appeal

The New York Knicks should thank Jordan Clarkson for his services but wave goodbye Steven Simineri|

Jordan Clarkson's exit wouldn't be as costly for the Knicks. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In this story:

While most of the New York Knicks offseason chatter has been centered around the futures of Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet, there's been a little buzz about fellow unrestricted free agent Jordan Clarkson.

According to Stefan Bondy of the NY Post, the 2021 Sixth Man of the Year remains a possibility to re-sign with Knicks despite New York's intention to remain under the second-apron. Clarkson, an imperfect player who long established himself as one of the league's premier hired guns, played a supporting role in helping the team win the championship and the door is ajar for a reunion.

The Knicks need to fill out their roster with three veteran minimums as things stand, so Clarkson is an option. But what he offers may not be as alluring to the Knicks this go-around.

Clarkson's ups and down hold him back as Knicks consideration

Clarkson's pedigree and savvy-scoring punch is valuable. He was a positive presence in the locker room and showed how great of teammate he is. The proven walking bucket is one of the best sixth men to ever do it and his 8,656 points off the bench ranks seventh all-time.

Accepting a diminishing role isn’t easy, especially for someone who's made close to $200 million. But the 12-year pro never complained and became the embodiment of staying ready. However, the Clarkson roller coaster experience had its peaks and valleys.

There was the team's elder statesman's second-half heroics in the Cup Final against the Spurs, his 25-point outing on Christmas Day and season high of 27-points in his return to Utah. He also magically healed OG Anunoby's wrist with an unseen ancient technique.

But during the first 11 games coming out of the All-Star break, Clarkson was a DNP (coach's decision) six times and only saw 27 minutes on the court. There was plenty of the Filipino sniper chucking up early-in-the-shot-clock bricks and coach Mike Brown yanked him from the rotation following the acquisition of Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline.

Then came one of the more unforeseen late career transformations. The 6-foot-5 microwave scorer reinvented himself as a pitbull on defense and elite offensive rebounding guard. Clarkson sported the highest OREB% of his career and the Knicks' overall OREB% was 3.2% higher with him on floor during the regular season.

Despite the uptick in defensive tenacity, Clarkson averaged a career-low 17.8 minutes and 8.6 points across 72 games. Most notably, the career 33.6% shooter from long range, totally lost his stroke during the final weeks.

From March 20 on, Clarkson missed 18 straight threes until he finally connected on his only attempt in Game 1 against Cleveland. He made just three of the 10 following attempts from deep that he took.

With the re-signing of Alvarado, once again using a third of the team's roster on five small guards is a tough sell. Barring a Miles McBride or Tyler Kolek trade, the Knicks could use those precious open roster spots on insurance up front and wings that are a bigger threat from long distance.

There's no question that Clarkson is still capable of eating away at some regular-season minutes. Bringing back Clarkson wouldn’t be a bad move, but I’m not so sure that it’s the right move.

No matter if he's back or not, Clarkson's one-year rendezvous in New York will be remembered fondly.

Published 58 minutes ago

STEVEN SIMINERI

Steven Simineri is a freelance writer and radio reporter with Metro Networks, the Associated Press and CBS Sports Radio based in New York. His reporting experience includes the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Yankees, Mets, Rangers, New Jersey Devils and US Open Tennis tournament. He has been a contributor for Forbes, Sporting News, River Avenue Blues and Nets Daily. He graduated from Fordham University and was a former on-air talent at NPR-affiliate WFUV (90.7 FM).

Paula Reid, CNN’s Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent, Will Exit Ahead of Paramount Takeover

Paula Reid is laying down the law at CNN.

The Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet’s chief legal affairs correspondent has decided to leave ahead of an expected takeover of the news giant by Paramount Skydance, according to a person familiar with the matter. Reid had the option to renew her contract, but chose to depart, this person says.

Reid could not be reached for immediate comment Tuesday evening. Status, a newsletter about the media industry, previously reported on her planned exit from CNN. CNN did not respond immediately to a query seeking comment.

Popular on Variety

More to come…

Jump to Comments

Loading comments...

Vance argues there is a ‘big silver lining’ in Supreme Court’s ‘preposterous ruling’ in birthright citizenship case

Vance argues there is a ‘big silver lining’ in Supreme Court's ‘preposterous ruling’ in birthright citizenship case

US News
- Metro
- Long Island
- Politics
World News
Page Six
Sports
- NFL
- MLB
- Olympics
- NBA
- NHL
- College Football
- College Basketball
- WNBA
Post Sports+
Sports Betting
Business
Opinion
Entertainment
- TV
- Movies
- Music
- Celebrities
- Awards
- Theater
Shopping
Lifestyle
- Weird But True
- Sex & Relationships
- Viral Trends
- Human Interest
- Parenting
- Fashion & Beauty
- Food & Drink
- Travel
Health
- Wellness
- Fitness
- Health Care
- Medicine
- Men’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
Real Estate
Alexa
Media
Tech
Science
- Space
- Environment
- Wildlife
- Archaeology
Astrology
Video
Photos
Pod Force One
NY POSTcast
- Today’s Paper
- Covers
- Columnists
- Horoscopes
- Crosswords & Games
- Sports Odds
- Podcasts
- Careers
- Email Newsletters
- Official Store
- Home Delivery
- Tips

Email New York Post

Switch between CA and NY editions here.

Edition

trending now in US News

Chilling photo shows bloodied Texas mom after allegedly being...

Heartbreaking photos show Florida hiker, 31, who was killed,...

Boyfriend desperately tried to save hiker as massive alligator...

Cops who busted smiling sisters Cookie and Kitty offer hint at...

GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. reveals reason behind mysterious absence as...

Search-and-rescue group makes baffling claim about embattled...

Actress hid fugitive boyfriend, funded his escape after he...

Long Island mom drank booze in bathroom as baby choked to death on popcorn kernels: DA

Long Island mom drank booze in bathroom as baby choked to death... Politics

Vance argues there is a ‘big silver lining’ in Supreme Court’s ‘preposterous ruling’ in birthright citizenship case

By Victor Nava Published June 30, 2026, 8:21 p.m. ET

See more of our coverage in your search results.

Add The New York Post on Google

Vice President JD Vance argued Tuesday that there is a “big silver lining” in the divided Supreme Court ruling striking down President Trump’s executive order outlawing birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and tourists.

“I know a lot of conservatives, Laura, certainly the people that I’m talking to, that you’re talking to, are extremely disappointed in this, but I do actually think there’s a really big silver lining here, and that’s the simple fact that a lot of legal experts expected this case to go the wrong direction by seven to two, or even eight to one,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham.

“The fact that this case was a 5-to-4 decision effectively means that the concept of birthright citizenship, which is an absurdity to the 14th Amendment, that concept is hanging by a thread,” the vice president argued during his appearance on “The Ingraham Angle.”

Vice President JD Vance argues there is a big silver lining in the Supreme Court&#039;s preposterous ruling in birthright citizenship case — Vice President JD Vance appeared on Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle” to discuss the Supreme Court’s blockbuster ruling on President Trump’s birthright citizenship case. Fox News

A pregnant asylum seeking migrant rests in the shelter at Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas on May 18, 2022 — A pregnant asylum-seeking migrant rests in the shelter at Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, on May 189, 2022. New York Post

Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Amy Coney Barrett were joined in the majority by liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor. The majority ruled that Trump’s order violated the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship guarantee.

Explore More

Chilling photo shows bloodied Texas mom after allegedly being stabbed by twisted teen Cookie

Heartbreaking photos show Florida hiker, 31, who was killed, dismembered by alligator as boyfriend desperately tried saving her

Boyfriend desperately tried to save hiker as massive alligator ripped her apart in three feet of water

A sixth justice, Brett Kavanaugh, found that the order did not violate the 14th Amendment, but did violate federal law from the 1940s and 1950s.

“What I take from [the ruling] is, yes, we’ve got to fix the immigration system even more, we have to be even more aware of who’s coming into our country to make sure that they’re not benefiting from this atrocious Supreme Court ruling,” Vance said, adding, “but it also means that we have to keep fighting … because we actually have an opportunity to reverse this decision.”

The vice president further argued that the high court’s “major, major mistake” might invite pregnant foreign nationals “to come here quite literally on a vacation, give birth, and then all of a sudden the child and their family have the full benefits of American citizenship.”

“It’s just a preposterous ruling, and the absurdity of that outcome suggests why the Supreme Court should have went the other way.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Filed under

Read Next Pelosi's would-be successor accused of pushing shocking ex...

Trending Now on NYPost.com

This story has been shared 89,496 times. 89,496
Mystery of explosive diarrhea parasite outbreak in the US — as experts try to figure out what’s causing it
This story has been shared 73,457 times. 73,457
Chilling photo shows bloodied Texas mom after allegedly being stabbed by twisted teen Cookie
This story has been shared 61,453 times. 61,453
Heartbreaking photos show Florida hiker, 31, who was killed, dismembered by alligator as boyfriend desperately tried saving her

Now on Page Six

See All

Video

Supreme Court releases closely watched decision on birthright citizenship and allows ban on trans athletes

Now on Decider

‘Dutton Ranch’ Season 2 Showrunner Change: Kelly Reilly And Cole Hauser Address Chad Feehan’s Departure

See All

Blue Jays Announce Troubling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. News After Exiting Starting Lineup

Story by

Gavin GroeTue, June 30, 2026 at 9:35 PM UTC·2 min read

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in the middle of a career-worst season. The 27-year-old superstar has posted a .268 batting average, .347 on-base percentage, .695 OPS, four home runs and 34 RBIs across 81 games.

The Blue Jays have had a disappointing season after last year's dream run to the World Series, and it is hard to point the blame at anyone more than Guerrero.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

He is the face of the franchise and only in year one of his massive 14-year, $500 million contract. He is a five-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award winner, so the expectations are naturally high, and he has fallen well short of them this year.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Guerrero has not been at full strength this season, which may be contributing to his struggles. He has continued to deal with back tightness throughout June, missing multiple games due to the injury. However, he had been trying to push through it, and it had not flared up in over a week.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Unfortunately, it flared up again before Tuesday's game against the New York Mets. Guerrero was originally included in the starting lineup but was scratched hours before game time.

Luis Urias entered the lineup in his place, stepping in defensively at second base, with Ernie Clement shifting to the hot corner and rookie Sean Keys taking over the vacant spot at first base.

Moments later, the Blue Jays confirmed the reason for his removal. "UPDATE: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed from tonight's starting lineup with back tightness," the team wrote on X.

AdvertisementAdvertisement

Manager John Schneider will likely provide further updates on Guerrero's condition after the game.

It is still unclear whether this is a day-to-day situation or, given that this is the third time the back has flared up this month, whether the Blue Jays may be forced to place him on the 10-day injured list.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.