Timberwolves must unleash Jaylen Clark amid breakout season

Heading into the season, most Minnesota Timberwolves fans were anticipating Rob Dillingham and/or Terrence Shannon Jr. to have a breakout season. Admittedly, I fall into this camp as well. However, Jaylen Clark was a player who fell under the radar despite having the biggest role out of this young trio last season.

15 games into the season, though, and Clark has been the most impactful of this bunch. There's no denying that his elite on-ball defense and contagious energy have been a game-changer for the Wolves. Clark has averaged a respectable 17.2 minutes, but I'd like him to get even more minutes. And I doubt that I'm the only one who wants to see this.

While his counting stats of 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and .7 assists don't stand out, if you watch the Wolves, you know that Clark's impact is undeniable.

Jaylen Clark is already one of the NBA's best on-ball defenders

Before the season, Clark said that he watches film on elite cornerback Patrick Surtain. This is evident given how well he can mirror opposing players on the ball and how disruptive he is off the ball.

Clark is holding opponents to 37.5 percent shooting from the field, which is among the best defensive field goal percentages in the league. He also ranks in the 93rd percentile for estimated defensive plus-minus per dunksandthreess. The UCLA product often picks up the opposing team's best perimeter player.

Last season, Clark's defense fittingly earned him the nickname "Clark County Jail." Much like how Lu Dort is nicknamed "The Dorture Chamber" for his elite on-ball defense. All on-ball stoppers need a nickname like this. Head coach Chris Finch compared Clark to a dog chasing a car, saying that he simply doesn't stop, an apt comparison if I've ever heard one.

Early in the season, the Wolves' defense struggled mightily with Rudy Gobert off the court. However, deploying Clark with Jaden McDaniels has given the Wolves a solution to this problem. According to Cleaning the Glass, the duo of Clark and McDaniels without Gobert posts a defensive rating of 114.7, which is a significant improvement from their season-long defensive rating average of 128.3 without Rudy.

The secret of this lineup has been using Clark as an on-ball stopper while sliding McDaniels down to a low man role. McDaniels missed Wednesday's game with a wrist injury, and as of now, it's unclear if he'll miss more time with this injury. In the unfortunate scenario that McDaniels misses time, Clark will surely see a bigger role, and he will be vital to maintaining a competent defense.

In Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards, Clark saw a season-high 26 minutes, recording seven points, five rebounds three steals, and a block.

Other aspects of Clark's game

Clark's off-ball defense and hustle also stand out. Per Databallr, Clark's 5.7 deflections per 100 possessions rank in the 89th percentile, and his 2.8 steals per 100 possessions also rank in the 89th percentile. Whether it's using his IQ to play the passing lanes, covering up mistakes as a helpside defender, or using his heart to dive for loose balls or poke the ball loose, Clark forces turnovers at a high rate.

He also attacks the glass at an elite rate, averaging 2.6 rebounds per game, including 2.9 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. This perfectly underscores his grit.

While Clark is shooting a solid 36 percent from 3-point range, many are still concerned with his outside shot. He was a 30.2 percent 3-point shooter in college, and defenses often sag off of him in the NBA. However, Clark's ability to cut, attack closeouts, make the extra pass, and crash the glass allows him to make a positive offensive impact.

A breakout season means different things for different players. For Clark, it won't result in him scoring double-digit points per game. Regardless, establishing himself as a mainstay in the Wolves' rotation and one of the NBA's perimeter on-ball defenders certainly counts as a breakout year. Frankly, I don't see the downside to giving Clark even more minutes, and with that, his breakout season would be noticed by more than just Timberwolves fans.