Mike Brown needs to learn a crucial lesson about Jordan Clarkson’s “guitar solo” style

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks had a successful Friday night, dominating the Utah Jazz, 146-112. OG Anunoby returned to the lineup and scored 11 points in 23 minutes. New York improved to 15-7 overall and 12-1 at home.

It was a matchup against old friends for the Knicks guard Jordan Clarksonwho spent nearly six seasons playing for Utah. The veteran made just five of his 13 shots, but gave an all-around effort, recording 16 points, four rebounds and five assists. It was representative of how he helped the Knicks so far this season.

Jazz head coach Will Hardy told reporters before the game that he was encouraging his team to “try to focus on the big picture stuff” when playing a talented team like the Knicks, implicitly acknowledging the talent disparity. He also explicitly mentioned New York’s pressure on the basket to create offense as their trait that concerned him the most.

Head coach of the Knicks Mike Brown favors using edge pressure to create an open look. After the win, Brown told reporters he believes his team leads the NBA in “sprays,” when a player drives and transitions from the paint to a teammate on the perimeter. Clarkson is a significant part of that offense.

Clarkson’s ‘art’ makes him a key part of the Knicks offense

The Knicks are eighth in the NBA in scoring per game with 53.4 through 22 games, one more than the Oklahoma City Thunder averaged through their first 23 games. The Miami Heat are the only team ahead of New York with a winning record.

There are 14 Knicks players in total combined for 1,174 drives this season, according to the NBA. Jalen Brunson’s 321 drives is 27.3% of the total. Karl-Anthony Towns (178 drives, 15.1%) and Mikal Bridges (164, 14%) are next. The Knick with the fourth most hits this season is Clarkson, whose 134 make up 11.4% of the team’s total so far.

Clarkson is averaging 6.1 tackles per game, fifth most on the team. He trails only the three aforementioned starters and OG Anunoby, whose scoring total was reduced by injury. Brown gives his players logical principles to report to the court. It’s a system based on probing the defense by driving, forcing them to act and responding to that action with the goal of getting the ball to someone who is open. He especially likes corner threes, where the team still leads the NBA in attempts.

These are not complete answer keys for NBA. Reading defensive coverages, making on-the-moment adjustments, or consistently finding ways to make something out of a broken play requires a “feel” for the game. Clarkson’s combination of innate instincts, polished skills and empirical knowledge shows through his ball-handling and scoring abilities, but also gives his feel on the court a unique flair.

Clarkson spent nearly two seasons with the Jazz before they hired Hardy. The Jazz head coach, who coached Clarkson for three seasons, spoke about the 33-year-old’s feelings ahead of the game, recalling the success the “very creative” Clarkson had when the two worked to find balance.

“He almost has the brain of an artist. You have to let him go. You can’t control every possession because you both end up frustrated… I told JC last year that when he feels the moment, he starts it, we’ll all step back – including me – and let him do the guitar solo … he asked that 75% of the game, he played a song that everyone knows.”

A tweak Mike Brown can make to improve the Knicks offense

Injuries to OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet pushed Josh Hart and Deuce McBride into the Browns’ starting lineup. Clarkson, however, is a real part of the second unit. Moments like his 24-point performance in the NBA Cup against the Miami Heat didn’t result in an even score. Clarkson is averaging 10.3 points per game on 8.7 shots per game, making just 43.8% of those attempts. Last season he made 36.2% of his 3-pointers while taking 6.3 per game. A 28-92 start this year leaves him shooting 30.4% from deep.

Potentially most impressive about Clarkson’s game in 2025 was his 29% free throw rate, his free throw attempts divided by his total field goal attempts. The 33-year-old has just an 18.75% free throw rate through 22 games as a Knick.

Clarkson having better teammates in New York discourages defenses from collapsing, reducing potential contact and giving him space. His game correlates as two-thirds of the shot attempts he makes within five feet of the basket, so far that would be a career high for an entire season.

Brown can’t want Clarkson to make more of his 3-point shots. His job is to implement a system that creates good looks for his players to take advantage of. Encouraging Clarkson to prioritize driving to the basket, Brown can help the Knicks offense even more.

As the defense adjusts to prevent Clarkson from thriving as a scorer, his teammates will gain more space on the stage. Letting him ‘cook’ the mismatches – playing guitar solos – while fans looked on in awe was key to his relationship with Hardy. Clarkson’s pressure on the rim and scoring even more from the free throw line could be key to the Knicks’ playoff hopes.

Jordan Clarkson’s job has always been to create on the court. When he drives, defenses have to choose between giving him a chance to score in isolation or take a splash. Whether he chooses to go solo or set up a bandmate, he plays the music Brown wants to hear. The coach can help keep things aligned by giving Clarkson more opportunities at the rim.