Jordan Clarkson’s tenure with the New York Knicks has taken a sharp and unexpected turn.
Just weeks after helping power the Knicks to the NBA Emirates Cup title, the former Sixth Man of the Year now finds himself on the fringes of the rotation — and, according to reports, potentially on the trade block as the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaches.
The Knicks snapped a brutal 2–9 stretch Wednesday night with a historic 120–66 rout of the Brooklyn Nets, the largest margin of victory in franchise history. But even in a game that featured wholesale rotation changes, Clarkson remained largely an afterthought.
Report: Knicks Expected to Shop Clarkson, Yabusele
According to New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield, Clarkson’s days in New York could be numbered.
“[Guerschon] Yabusele and Clarkson are among the names the Knicks are expected to shop as they look to bolster their roster ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline,” Winfield wrote.
Clarkson and Yabusele were the Knicks’ most notable offseason bench additions, signed to stabilize a second unit that struggled with consistency last season. But as the roster has returned to full health, their roles have steadily shrunk.
Minutes Dry Up as Knicks Get Healthy
Knicks head coach Mike Brown has increasingly leaned on Miles McBride and Landry Shamet in the reserve backcourt, leaving Clarkson fighting for minutes.
Against Brooklyn, Clarkson did not enter the game until New York’s lead had ballooned to 32 points after three quarters. In Monday’s 114–97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks — a game marked by loud boos from the home crowd — Clarkson played just two minutes before being benched for the remainder of the night.
Brown acknowledged the difficult rotation math before Wednesday’s game.
“Yeah, it could be tough to get him in the rotation,” Brown said, per the New York Post. “Obviously Deuce [McBride] played well during his time, Mitch [Robinson] played well, Landry [Shamet] played at a pretty high level before he got hurt. So, trying to find minutes for those guys as well as for our starting group is tough. I can’t even hit the minute threshold for all those guys that I’m looking for.”
Clarkson Responds Like a Veteran
Clarkson, 33, has taken the demotion in stride publicly, emphasizing professionalism and readiness.
“I read the room, I see what it is,” Clarkson told reporters after the Nets’ blowout. “Just a vet, you know, coming in here doing my work and staying ready.
“When I’m playing in those minutes with the young guys, I’m not taking that away from them — being a pro, talking to them, trying to get them in their spots,” he added. “I’m not going to go in there and mess the game up. I’m just going to play the right way and help these guys grow.”
Still, the numbers tell a sobering story.
Clarkson is averaging 9.7 points per game on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 33.0 percent from three-point range — the first time in his career he has averaged single-digit scoring. That downturn comes after he led the NBA in bench scoring over the past five seasons and captured Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Clarkson: ‘I Can Help Any Team in the League’
Despite the downturn, Clarkson remains confident in his value.
“I can help any team in the league, help win it,” he said. “You’ve seen it early on in the year. I know I’ve got a lot left in my tank. I know I can make an impact — win anywhere, and win here.”
Clarkson’s confidence is not unfounded. During the Knicks’ NBA Cup title run, he played a pivotal role alongside second-year guard Tyler Kolek, sparking a second-half rally that swung momentum.
Clarkson scored 15 points off the bench in the title game, including 13 in the second half and two momentum-shifting three-pointers to open the fourth quarter.
“Without them, we don’t win this,” team captain Jalen Brunson said afterward.
Trade Deadline Looms as Knicks Weigh Options
Now, Clarkson is out of the regular rotation — a stunning reversal given his recent impact and résumé.
For the Knicks, the calculus is straightforward. With health restored and younger guards earning trust, Clarkson’s expiring role may be more valuable as trade ballast than as a situational scorer buried on the bench.
For Clarkson, the message is equally clear: stay ready, stay professional — and wait to see whether his next opportunity comes in New York or elsewhere.
As the trade deadline approaches, one of the league’s most accomplished bench scorers appears increasingly likely to be on the move again.
Knicks Expected to Shop NBA Cup Hero: Report