Lakers’ Jordan Clarkson named after Michael Jordan

Los Angeles Lakersí Jordan Clarkson, center, shoots between Minnesota Timberwolvesí Gorgui Dieng, left, and Chase Budinger during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 25, 2015, in Minneapolis. Clarkson led the Lakers with 20 points in their 101-99 overtime win. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Los Angeles Lakersí Jordan Clarkson, center, shoots between Minnesota Timberwolvesí Gorgui Dieng, left, and Chase Budinger during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 25, 2015, in Minneapolis. Clarkson led the Lakers with 20 points in their 101-99 overtime win. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

The backwards Nike hat with the Michael Jordan logo sat firmly on Jordan Clarkson’s head during a recent interview, a symbol that meant something more than just a fashion choice.

Michael Jordan also represented the person whom the Lakers rookie guard was named after in a unique way. Clarkson’s father, Mike, named his son Jordan so that their first names together would spell out the former Chicago Bulls star.

“I liked how hard Michael Jordan played and how determined he was,” said Mike Clarkson in an interview with Los Angeles News Group for a story detailing his relationship with his son and his recent scare of cancer in the last year. “I thought I’d name him Jordan. I didn’t want anyone taking offense to him being named Michael Jordan. But I thought maybe it will come out to be something.”

A long verdict awaits on what Jordan Clarkson’s ceiling could become. But Lakers coach Byron Scott echoed Mike Clarkson’s belief that his 22-year-old son could eventually become an NBA All-Star.

Jordan Clarkson made two clutch free-throws in the final minute of the Lakers’ victories this past week in Minnesota and Philadelphia. Jordan Clarkson’s game-winning layup with .09 seconds left against the Sixers capped off a 26-point performance on a career-high 11 assists and three steals.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Clarkson became the fifth Lakers rookie to record at least 25 points and 10 assists in a game. The other notable Lakers rookies included Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Norm Nixon and Archie Clark. He has averaged 14.9 points on 45.2 percent shooting and 4.1 assists as a starter for the past 30 games

“That’s cool,” Jordan Clarkson said about his name’s origin. “At the time, Michael was in his prime and stuff like that. I wouldn’t be surprised if you looked in the books around 1992-93. Around those years, a lot of those kids were named Jordan.”

In fact, there are reportedly 3,090 people in the United States named Michael Jordan. But despite boasting a closet full of Michael Jordan’s shoes, Jordan Clarkson did not necessarily grow up wanting to be like Mike.

“I watched some of his games but I was too young to watch,” said Jordan Clarkson, who also had a FatHead of Lakers guard Kobe Bryant growing up back in San Antonio. “I grew up on Allen Iverson, Kobe, a young LeBron [James] and Carmelo [Anthony].”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com