The New York Knicks are expected to make another deep postseason run after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025 for the first time in 25 years.
Both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will aim to lead the team to a potential NBA Finals berth after netting All-Star selections last season, but the Knicks’ newfound depth could be their real key to championship contention.
In fact, former 20-year NBA veteran, 3-time Sixth Man of the Year winner and current NBA on NBC analyst Jamal Crawford went as far as saying that one of New York’s most notable signings from this past summer will prove just how impactful he can be in a winning situation by taking home Sixth Man of the Year honors for the second time in his career.
“I like Jordan Clarkson in New York (to win Sixth Man of the Year),” Crawford shared during an NBA TV appearance Tuesday.
“The formula is, you can be successful off the bench or in any role that you’re up for an award, but your team has to have team success.”
“I think (Knicks head coach Mike Brown) is going to utilize his bench a lot and I think those guys (like) Jordan Clarkson will have the green light to do what he does.”
“He’ll be kind of like the sixth starter…he’s won it before and when you do well in that market, everything is amplified.”
After joining the Knicks on a one-year, $3.6 million deal in the offseason, the former second-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft should be expected to carry plenty of the scoring load in 2025-26, especially when Brunson leaves the floor.
Clarkson’s first and only Sixth Man of the Year victory came as a member of the Utah Jazz in 2020-21, when he averaged 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while registering 54.9% true shooting percentage in 68 contests.
With an opportunity to claim the award once again for one of the NBA’s marquee franchises, the legendary former Knick Crawford believes for good reason that wearing a Knicks jersey will heavily benefit the 33-year-old methodical scorer.
If anything, Crawford’s opinion should be held with high regard.
The ex-Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers great became one of the NBA’s most decorated reserve players of all time after coming away with three Sixth Man of the Year awards and averaging 12.4 points spanning 894 games off of the bench for his career.
