Jordan Clarkson has just made the move from Utah to New York City. He’s signed to a new team and the biggest milestone of his already impressive career is due to kick-off in late October when the basketball season starts again. “New York’s high energy. There’s a lot of work for me to do right now, so I’m just trying to get ready,” he says. Clarkson’s a regular at New York Fashion Week, so the city isn’t unknown to him. However, he’s still finding his bearings: “I’m the new kid on the block, for sure.” In Episode 2 of our ‘24 Hours To The Fullest’ series, directed by Henry DaCosta, GQ sees the lululemon ambassador in peak preparation mode both on and off the court.
As a series, ‘24 Hours To The Fullest’ tracks individuals at the top of their game. It celebrates how each person lives life on their own terms, staying in shape – both mentally and physically – to perform to the best of their ability. In creating this series, GQ and lululemon uncover the practices that keep momentum and motivation high. For Clarkson, who’s very much on his game, an average day is centred around discipline. “I wake up and get my mind right first, starting with a cold shower to get going,” he says. “Then, I go to practice at the facility.”
At the court, he lands basket after basket with one eye steadily on the shot clock. As a former Sixth Man of the Year and known among basketball fans as a “Bucket Getter”, Clarkson regularly goes head-to-head with the 24-second timer. “I feel most alive at arena games, just feeling the electric energy and people’s interaction,” explains the top scorer. His pre-game preparation is serious. “24 hours before a big game, I usually do a lot of prep, stretching and take a nap, so I’m fully ready to go by the night,” he shares.
