MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves forward Jaylen Clark ended last season on a downward swing.

In his first season, Clark, a second-round rookie with minimal expectations for immediate impact, shot 43 percent from three-point range, in addition to supporting a near 60 true shooting percentage during his rookie campaign. His contract was guaranteed through his second season, but he admitted that the uncertainty of a potential next deal initiated an extended shooting slide.

“Yeah, because my first year I ain't gonna lie I was just like having fun,” said Clark. “It didn't matter because my next year was set. But when you have like as big a numbers as we're playing for, I mean, it's natural to think about it. I think anyone who tells you they're not, they're lying, if you know what I mean.
That's life-changing money. … So it's like, it just, it weighs on you for sure.”

In his sophomore season, Clark’s shooting-splits took a major downturn — shooting roughly 33 percent from the three point line, a near ten point downturn from his promising rookie season from beyond the arc.

Going into year three however, Clark feels significantly less pressure and significantly more confidence in his jumper. A lot of his rejuvenated confidence stems from the new three-year, over $10 million dollar contract he received in late June. “I don't really care if I miss or make,” said Clark, the UCLA alumni. “I think last year, especially with being in contract year — I think that's another thing that weighs over your head a ton, because I got off to a first like a good thirty games and then you hear you're gonna be worth this number.

“Then you play ten bad games and now you're like, okay, ‘where am I at now?’ And then you have a good, bad, good, bad. So it's like a whole bunch of — and then every shot feels like the weight of the world, because you're trying to get to a certain number.”

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The weight of imminent free agency impacts players differently. Clark’s initial rookie deal pales in comparison to the likes of earlier draft picks. The first overall pick in the 2023 draft, Victor Wembanyama, immediately signed a deal worth north of $55 million dollars — almost $53 million dollars more than Clark’s $2.6 million dollars guaranteed at signing.

“A lot of guys don't make it to their last year in their contracts anymore,” said Clark. “Most guys, their goal is to get extended and they play a year on. They play into their guaranteed money, as you see many guys do nowadays. And I think that's also, I mean, historically, it'd be like a guy in their contract, years too, if you know what I mean? So definitely having that off my back is like, I feel like will help me a ton.”

With the departures of several veteran wings from the second unit, Clark should see a further expanded role, with the opportunity to prove that he is worth the over $10 million dollars he has been guaranteed in his new contract.