Lakers#6 Jordan Clarkson drives past Pelicans#42 Alexis Ajinca and Pelicans#30 Norris Cole for a bucket in the first half. The Los Angeles Lakers played the New Orleans Pelicans in a regular season NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. April 1, 2015. (Photos by John McCoy / Los Angeles Daily News)

He almost wrote history, Jordan Clarkson nearly becoming the first Lakers rookie to collect a triple double since Magic Johnson did nearly 35 years ago.

Kobe Bryant informed Clarkson that he fell short, his 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, 10 assists, seven rebounds and one turnover serving as the main bright spot in the Lakers’ 113-92 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday at Staples Center. Clarkson downplayed the importance of it, maintaining that “I want to win.”

But later on in a quiet moment, the Lakers’ rookie guard acknowledged he has set his eyes on something else. After averaging 15 points on 45.9 percent shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.1 turnovers through the past 31 starts, Clarkson believes he deserves a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie team.

“Hopefully. That would be cool,” Clarkson said. “It is what it is. If I don’t make it, it’s all good. But it’s going to add another chip.”

Clarkson has many chips. After the Lakers paid the Washington Wizards $1.8 million to secure his draft rights with the 46th pick, Clarkson has admitted feeling offended that his draft stock dipped so low. Most mock drafts pegged him as a late first-round pick, but Clarkson’s play diminished in the second half of his junior season at University of Missouri. But Clarkson attributes that drop to learning his dad was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in his lower back, a disease he successfully overcame with treatment.

With the Lakers, Clarkson’s trajectory has gone the opposite way, particularly in the past week. He has posted two consecutive double doubles. Clarkson made key late-game shots in wins against Minnesota (free throws) and Philadelphia (layup). He also posted a career-high 30 points against Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.

All of which prompted Lakers coach Byron Scott to rave that “the kid is just getting better and better.” So much that Scott also believes Clarkson deserves a spot on the league’s all-rookie team.

“He’s played enough games, improved enough and shown enough,” Scott said. “I definitely do.”

Clarkson’s ranks third among rookies this season in points per game (10.9), eighth in shooting percentage (44.7%) and fifth in assists (3.1). Yet, those numbers do not fully capture Clarkson’s effectiveness considering he spent 20 of the Lakers’ first 43 games on the bench playing only garbage time. Based on his 31 starts, Clarkson actually ranks second in scoring behind Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins (16.3 points) and second in assists behind Orlando’s Elfrid Payton (6.3 assists).

In the his last five games, Clarkson has averaged 21.6 points, 5 rebounds and six assists. Both Scott and Clarkson attributed that uptick to various factors. They credited to how Clarkson has learned to temper his speed, which Scott said first started at 150 miles per hour and clocked against New Orleans at 75 miles per hour. Clarkson credited the increased floor spacing with Ryan Kelly assuming the stretch four position. Both touted how Clarkson has no fear in making the big play. Both gushed about how little time it takes for Clarkson to learn from a mistake.

“He’s a kid who’s trying to prove himself every single night,” Scott said. “So he has a toughness about him mentally as well as physically. That helps him do some of the things he’s been able to do this year.”

And yet, Scott concedes he hardly sees a finished product. He remains intrigued how much Clarkson will grow in summer-league play and offseason workouts. If the Lakers upgrade this offseason by either drafting a young point guard, acquiring a veteran point guard or selecting a rookie or free agent big man, how will Clarkson’s strong play mix in with a stronger supporting cast?

“I still want him to continue to show me something,” Scott said. “That’s what he’s doing. I don’t want to go overboard. I want him to continue to work and get better as a basketball player. I’m sure he has very high expectations of himself. I have to take it step by step.”

Yet, that has not stopped from Scott already talking optimistically about Clarkson’s ceiling. He left open the possibility that Clarkson could become an All-Star caliber player. Scott also likened Clarkson’s athleticism to Westbrook.

“That’s a good comparison, but it’s a big one,” Clarkson said. “I watched Russell a lot and try to take a lot from his game. But I’m not trying to be Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul or anybody else. I’m trying to be me. I’ll take a little bit from them all and learn.”

Clarkson has learned plenty already. So much that he sees a placement on the NBA All-Rookie team in sights, something that he thinks would do wonders for his game regardless on whether he lands on the list or not.

Said Clarkson: “It would just keep pushing me next season to work even harder.”

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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