Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson will participate in the 2016 Taco Bell Skills Challenge at 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto, the NBA announced on Thursday evening.
LA drafted Clarkson with a second round draft pick during the 2014 NBA Draft, a pick that the team purchased for cash on draft night. The Washington Wizards officially drafted the former Missouri Tiger, but the Lakers told the Wizards who to pick as a deal was in place.
In his rookie season, Clarkson raised eyebrows when Lakers coach Byron Scott started the relatively unknown point guard in his home town of San Antonio on Jan. 23, 2015. Over those final 38 games of his rookie season, Clarkson performed at a high level and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.
Entering his second season, the quiet combo guard showed significant improvement during the NBA Summer League and preseason. Thus far, Clarkson has looked like the Lakers' most consistent player during the 2015-16 NBA season. Clarkson has scored in double figures in 45 of 50 NBA games this season, including 20 games in a row.
In New Orleans, Clarkson made his first eight shots and scored 18 points in the Lakers' victory.
Along with taking part in the NBA Skills Challenge, Clarkson is also expected to take part in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, which is exclusively for rookies and sophomores in the NBA. Clarkson will be joined with Lakers' rookie D'Angelo Russell in the Rising Stars game, but Julius Randle did not earn an invite to the young kids' game. Randle was the Lakers' lottery pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
NBA All-Star Weekend will take place on the Weekend of Feb. 13.
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In the Skills Challenge, Clarkson will compete against defending Skills Challenge champion Patrick Beverley (Houston Rockets), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers), Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves). The event consists of an obstacle-course competition that tests dribbling, passing, agility and three-point-shooting skills. Tournament matchups have yet to be determined.
