The Los Angeles Lakers ranked dead last in three-point percentage last season, and if they plan on changing that, some players will have to make major improvements. One of those players will certainly be Jordan Clarkson.
Clarkson has already shown the ability to improve his jumper over the summer as he went from 31.4 percent from deep as a rookie to 34.7 percent as a sophomore. And if this latest evidence is any indication, it may be rising again in year three.
Pure Sweat trainer Drew Hanlen tweeted out a video of Clarkson shooting in the gym, and he was on fire to say the least:
The brodie @JClark5on has been working on extending his range. @Lakers fans, get excited! @LakersNation #unseenhours pic.twitter.com/hieDFTpQtQ
— Drew Hanlen (@DrewHanlen) August 2, 2016
Videos like this will definitely cause some excitement amongst Lakers fans and with good reason. Clarkson has always been known as a great slasher, but his jumper needed work. Clarkson, however, was well aware of his shortcomings and has worked tirelessly to improve it.
One worry for the Lakers is that many of their best players need the ball in their hand to be effective. Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle are all players comfortable while handling the ball, but Clarkson improving his off-the-ball game will help improve the efficiency of everyone.
Russell will be the team’s point guard coming into the season and will likely have the ball in his hand most of the time. One issue last season was that his teammates weren’t great at getting themselves open off-the-ball. Clarkson becoming a reliable spot-up shooter opens up the floor for Russell and the rest of the Lakers.
Clarkson is the leading returning scorer on the Lakers this season. With Russell’s inspiring play during Summer League, many have begun to peg him as the player most ready to take the leap, but Clarkson may be ready to do the same.
