Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jordan Clarkson experienced firsthand last season the rebuilding process the team is going through and he is hoping they will make it to the playoffs in their next campaign.
Last season, the Lakers finished with a 21–61 record, the worst season in the history of the franchise as they also failed to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
SiriusXM NBA Radio had Clarkson Wednesday and he spoke about his aspiration for the team next season.
"We definitely want to win games and hopefully make the playoffs. Taking it one day at a time," Clarkson said according to SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Clarkson surprised everyone last season with his performance in his rookie year with Los Angeles.
The 23-year-old point guard played 59 games for the purple and gold, including 38 starts and averaging 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per outing which earned him All-Rookie First Team honors.
Clarkson continued to play well as he was one of the standouts from the Lakers during the Summer League, although they finished at 1–4.
He played and started in all five of their Summer League games and averaged 16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per game.
Clarkson's Summer League stint did not just show flashes of greatness but also a new and much younger guard combination for the Lakers' backcourt next season.
NBA Draft 2015 No. 2 pick D'Angelo Russell started alongside Clarkson during the Summer League and their backcourt tandem spells the future for Los Angeles.
The two are expected to start next season, providing youth to the team who are also preparing for the post-Kobe Bryant era.
Along with Clarkson and Russell, 2014 No. 7 pick Julius Randle is also set to return after sitting out the entire 2014–15 season following an injury suffered in last season's opening game.
Randle is one of the younger players in the current Lakers roster expected to create an impact for them next season.
