New arrivals Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele to join Knicks: “They are playing for something”
The Knicks training camp is underway, with the team that put the field together for the first time on Wednesday in Westchester.
After listening to the established Knicks like Jalen Brunson AND City of Karl-Antony Tuesday Wednesday offered the opportunity to listen to a couple of new arrivals in Jordan ClarksonAND Guerschon Yabuselea pair of veterans who should have important roles on Mike BrownSquad.
Clarkson, 33 years old, is now part of his fourth NBA team while entering his twelfth season as a professional, but has been able to mark every step with a high clip.
The sixth winner of the Man of the Year award with the Utah in 2020-21, Clarkson, who marked on average 16.0 points per game in his career, is ready to take on any necessary role while his Knicks mandate begins.
“For me, I will be in myself within what is happening. … I will do my changes or whatever I have to do to adapt here and play in the right way and understand it,” said Clarkson. “It’s the first day of the training camp, but I definitely feel like all the guys, I throw it to me, it’s going in the air. Most of the time I feel open. But it is provided with a grain of salt and I know that I have to make good shots and also play in the right way.”
Yabusele’s path to the Knicks is a different story. Originally selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, Yabusele appeared in just 74 games with Boston before being given up and taking his career abroad.
But after helping France to earn a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024, Yabusele returned to the NBA last season with the Sixers, with an average of 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds while playing in 70 games (43 departures).
“First of all I am really grateful to be here in this organization with everything that has been done before,” said Yabusele. “Coming here, my mentality was really to play like a team, he really tries to be a good teammate before, inside and off the pitch. Just try to bring all the energy possible, play every day with joy, bring the fun out there and the rest will take care of himself."
After winning 51 games of the regular season and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks held their talented together
And with Brown now at the helm, Clarkson and Yabusele are ready to do everything they are asked to help the Knicks achieve their final goal of winning a title.
"The team is really good. They are playing for something," Clarkson said. "These guys I saw a lot during the playoffs and during the year. … I just wanted to be here."
"I like the team, the spirit they had on the pitch, the way they were playing every possession hard," Added Yabusele. "They were really playing together, you can really say that they were linking together and had a goal together. They only fight in the field. They give out all there."