Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) laughs as he and former teammate New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) talk after the Jazz lost to the Knicks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Sarah Todd
By Sarah Todd
Sarah Todd covers the NBA and Utah Jazz for the Deseret News.

Jordan Clarkson needs no introduction at the Delta Center.

He is likely to go down as one of the two coolest Utah Jazz players of all time (there might be some fighting about who is cooler — Clarkson or Boris Diaw).

He is the only Jazz player to have ever won Sixth Man of the Year honors, the trade to acquire him marked a shift in the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert era, when the team was really fighting at the top of the NBA, and he endeared himself to Jazz fans swiftly, with good vibes and all love.

He doesn’t need an introduction, but it didn’t stop the team from giving him one of the more heartfelt tributes in his first game back after joining the New York Knicks roster over the summer.

And isn’t it just perfect that on Wednesday night, when the Knicks were flailing and in need of some sort of a spark off the bench, Clarkson was the one to deliver?

He scored 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, sparking a second-half run for the Knicks in a 134-117 come-from-behind victory over the Jazz. The crowd, which was a surprisingly equal mix of Knicks fans and Jazz fans, was one when Clarkson had the ball and on every point he scored.

Though he’s appreciative of his opportunity in New York, to play for a team that’s contending, Utah, the Jazz and the fans will always hold a special place in his heart.

“They mean a lot, a lot of love,” Clarkson said. “Feel like the whole city is a fan of the Jazz, even the whole state. I feel it even while I’m in New York. Hopefully we’ll see a bunch of double-00 jerseys in here. Just express the love of being back here and being back home.”

And he’s not exaggerating when he calls it home. Clarkson still owns his house in Utah, still has a ton of relationships, came back to Utah before his season with the Knicks started and made of point of saying that he spent half of his 12-year career in a Jazz jersey.

While the Sixth Man award and the Jazz’s league-leading 2021-22 season were career highlights for Clarkson, he appreciated being the lone holdover from the previous era when the Jazz started rebuilding.

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New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) looks to pass with Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) defending as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Andersson Garcia (0) knocks the ball away from New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) under the basket as Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Andersson Garcia (0) drives with the ball as New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) flies past as Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) walk on the court as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) is guarded by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) holds his position after shooting a three point shot over Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado (5) tries to draw a call on Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan (20) ducks under the defence of Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) grabs at his hamstring after trying to defend New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) on a breakaway as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) and Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy talk at the scorers table as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) and Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) battle for the rebound as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) points, trying to influence the official as Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) fouls former Jazzmanm New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) knocks down a three point shot over Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) takes the ball back up around Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) yells after making a shot as the Utah Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) pushes up a shot as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) knocks the ball away from Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) laughs as he and former teammate New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) talk after the Jazz lost to the Knicks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) pushes up a shot as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) celebrates after making a shot as the Jazz and New York Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) battles Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy and former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) hug after the game as the Jazz fall to the New York Knicks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) guards Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) walks back onto the court after a timeout as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Andersson Garcia (0) tries to knock the ball away from New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) pulls up and shoots a three point shot over Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) just misses a steal on Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) and New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) shake hands in the final moments of the game as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) grabs a rebound between New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) and New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) works against New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado (5) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) celebrates with teammate New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado (5) after shooting a three point shot over Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) grabs at his hamstring and heads directly into the locker room after trying to defend New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) on a breakaway as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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After draining a three point shot, Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) celebrates with teammate Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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After draining a three point shot, Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) gestures back toward the bench as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Andersson Garcia (0) knocks the ball away from New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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New York Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara (51) and Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42) grapple for the ball as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) looks around the court as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) takes the ball to the hoop as former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) looks on as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) celeberates hitting a three point shot as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) guards Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) guards former Jazzman New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey (19) looks for help as he is guarded by New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) as the Jazz and Knicks play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

“My time here has just been great, period,” he said. “Even when we went through tough seasons the last two, three years — it’s all been great. It’s all been a highlight for me ... it’s all love."

Clarkson found value in learning to be a veteran mentor and redefining the kind of player he could be.

He also enjoyed helping head coach Will Hardy learn the ropes and find his footing in his first years at the helm of an NBA team. And without really knowing it, he gave Hardy much-needed perspective.

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“He had such a big impact on me coming in as a first-time head coach,” Hardy said. “He taught me about when to let go of control, and that our players in this league are so talented and gifted, and there are moments as a coach where your responsibility is to help them and to guide them, and then there’s also moments where your responsibility is to get out of their way.

“I feel like I spent a lot of my time trying to get out of Jordan’s way, because he has unbelievable instincts. But you know, as JC is, sometimes he sees it a little bit differently than everybody else. I had so much fun coaching him.”

There are a number of players in Jazz history that have better stats, or that had bigger impacts on the trajectory of the team. There’s a long list of Utah Jazz greats that you would have to get through before landing on Clarkson’s name. But he is, without a doubt, one of the coolest and one of the most beloved players that this team has ever had.

And on Wednesday night, he held back his emotions during the tribute video, then came alive to put on another show for Jazz fans, and remind them of why they love him.

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