Save for an Instagram post hours after the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson has been on radio silence regarding the death of his former teammate and mentor.
The 27-year-old Filipino-American disclosed that he is still in shock, trying to understand why this happened to his “big brother”.
“It’s definitely been tough. Kobe being one of my teammates, my mentor, and a big brother to me, it just got me hard, to be honest with you. I haven’t really spoken on it or said anything. I’m still trying to process it,” Clarkson said after Utah’s 100-106 loss to Denver last Friday (Manila time).
“He was like Superman to me.”
Growing up, Clarkson admitted that he idolized Bryant. So when he was drafted as the 46th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, he tried to get close to the five-time NBA champion.
But he needed to prove himself worthy to be under Kobe’s guidance. And once he did, the two became more than just teammates — they became family.
Even when Clarkson was traded to Cleveland and, later on, Utah, and even after Bryant retired from the game, the two kept in touch. The 6-foot-4 guard even trained with the former league Most Valuable Player during the off-season in a two-day camp called Mamba Sports Pro Invitational.
As a tribute to his hero, Clarkson had his season-high 37 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the field against Denver.
Clarkson knows that it will only get tougher from here. But just like everyone else, he knows that he has to move on and be a the best that he can be — just like what the Black Mamba always preached.
“It’s tough but I have to keep going and keep pushing.”
Clarkson’s interview was posted by Salk Lake City Tribune reporter Eric Walden.
