Going into Thursday’s game, Clark had been averaging just 3.4 points per game.

“This type of basketball reminds me a lot of when I was at UCLA my freshman year,” Clark told reporters after the game. “I played for [Mick] Cronin, and he was kind of how guys say, ‘non-mistake’ basketball when you’re a young guy. So, I’ve dealt with figuring out how to play without turning it over, having to score, do all that stuff. So, it really helped prepare me when I hit that adversity my freshman year, and it’s translating now.”

Minnesota selected Clark in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft and would sign him to a two-way contract.

That followed what was the best season of his collegiate career, in which he averaged 13 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.6 steals, which led the Pac-12. He made the All-Pac-12 Second Team, received Pac-12 All-Defense honors for the second-straight season and was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Clark spent three seasons with the Bruins, helping lead them to a regular season conference title and an appearance in the Final Four.

Clark has averaged around 17 minutes of playing time in his last six contests, and his performance on Thursday should grant him even more time on the floor moving forward.

The UCLA faithful should be quite pleased to see their former star blossoming after facing the major setback he did.

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