Golden State Warrior Ian Clark returns home to Memphis with NBA championship trophy
The Larry O'Brien trophy has been on a countrywide tour since the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title in June - on Monday, the prize made its way to Memphis via a familiar face.
Germantown native and Warriors guard Ian Clark spoke alongside the trophy to a group of kids at the Boys and Girls Club, taking pictures and answering questions from students.
“Being able to bring it back in Memphis has been great," Clark said. "A lot of guys don’t get a chance to this milestone."
Prior to his NBA career, Clark starred at Germantown High School, averaging 23 points, five rebounds and five assists during his senior year, earning a scholarship to Belmont University, where he developed into a capable shooter. His introduction to the NBA, however, wasn't as successful, as he bounced around the league, playing stints for the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and even the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA's G-League before signing on with the Warriors two years ago.
This season, Clark had his best year as a pro, averaging 6.8 points a game, while shooting career-best 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from three point range, becoming a reliable player off the bench.
Although Clark represented the Warriors during the trophy presentation in Memphis, he acknowledges it'll probably be his last time representing the team for the foreseeable future. With the team deep in the league's luxury tax after re-signing much of their core in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala, chances were slim that Clark would return. The Warriors could've offered Clark the team's tax payer's mid-level exception worth about $5.2 million, but decided to give that to Nick Young, all but sealing Clark's fate.
"It's part of the business," Clark said of the deal. "No hard feelings either. Now just go out there and find the best deal possible."
Clark, who signed for the veteran's minimum last summer, says he's looking for a perfect fit in addition to a payday.
“Just being able to have the same opportunities the last few years, to be able to play. Being able to be on a team where you can help contribute is every guy’s dream.”
The trophy's presence in Memphis is its third stop this summer. Before Clark brought it to Memphis, it made its way to St. Louis for a Cardinals game on a night when rookie Patrick McCaw threw the first pitch. Its next stop was to Peoria, Ill., where Warriors guard Shaun Livingston showed it off at his old school for students along with the Warriors' championship trophy from 2015.
How the trophy travels from place to place is an adventure in itself. The team, which makes the trophy available to each of its players upon request, puts the hardware in custom made - Pelican hardware case wrapped in a towel, then buys an extra seat for the item to travel with a team official, who wraps the case in seatbelt extenders provided by the airline staff.
The trophy tour may not be over just yet, as Warriors center Zaza Pachulia has been pushing to get the trophy to his native Republic of Georgia for a ceremony.
