Jordan Clarkson feels right at home in the NBA Finals. It’s because he literally gets to be at home.
The New York Knicks guard and former Utah Jazzman grew up in San Antonio, not far from where the Knicks and Spurs are battling it out for an NBA title.
And Clarkson isn’t the only one on the Knicks roster that is familiar with the surroundings in San Antonio. Teammate and two-way player, Kevin McCullar Jr. went to the same high school as Clarkson — Wagner High — though many years later.
“Definitely feels amazing, kind of unreal, honestly, just growing up in this city, having a teammate that went to the same high school as me,” Clarkson told the San Antonio News Express. “Playing the state championship games, just a lot of growth here as a kid. So this definitely feels great and seeing my family members, them being able to come to a finals game. It’s just amazing.”
“Jordan’s an amazing player. When you talk about sixth men, you have to bring his name in to the conversation. He’s been a spark on whatever team he’s been on. It’s a testament to all the work he puts in. He’s honed his craft. He’s an exciting player to watch. I just tip my cap to him.”
— Spurs forward Keldon Johnson
Clarkson’s brother, Bear, and other family members have been posting regularly on social media about the excitement in San Antonio with the return of the NBA Finals, but make no mistake, the Clarkson family are all wearing blue and orange and are full-fledged Knicks fans (for now) hoping that they’ll be able to see Clarkson and the rest of the New York squad raise the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Though Clarkson has played across the country, for the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz and now New York Knicks, he has always kept a strong base where his roots are. His parents still live in San Antonio and when Clarkson’s daughter is not with him, she also lives in San Antonio.
He spends a lot of his offseason down in Texas and has always maintained a good relationship with the community and his alma mater.
Across the court, on the Spurs roster, there’s a lot of respect for the San Antonio native as well.
“Jordan’s an amazing player,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson, the 2026 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, told the San Antonio News Express. “When you talk about sixth men, you have to bring his name in to the conversation. He’s been a spark on whatever team he’s been on. It’s a testament to all the work he puts in. He’s honed his craft. He’s an exciting player to watch. I just tip my cap to him.”
Of course, Clarkson won the Sixth Man of the Year award while with the Jazz back in 2021. Since then, he helped guide young players through the Jazz rebuild before joining the Knicks roster last summer. His role has diminished, compared to what it once was, but at times he’s helped the Knicks in big games off the bench.
When Clarkson was a kid, he used to hang around at the hotel where his mom worked and he has mentioned watching the Spurs championship parades from there and enjoying the excitement of the city celebrating the hometown team.
Although Clarkson enjoys being able to play in San Antonio and have his family all there supporting him, he’s hoping that he can take that excitement back to New York and end up in parade with the Knicks rather than watching another one roll through San Antonio.
The Knicks started out things the right way, winning Game 1 of the Finals in San Antonio on Wednesday night. Game 2 is set to tip off at 6:30 MDT on Friday on ESPN.
