Germantown graduate scores big in the NBA

Germantown High School alumnus Ian Clark held the Larry O’Brien trophy over his head after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals.

Clark joins the short list of Memphis natives to do so; however, his journey to becoming a champion is no average tale. Clark received a lot of recognition for his talents on the court while in high school, where he played varsity basketball for four years.

Despite his good play in high school, Clark was not highly recruited. He eventually found a basketball home not far away from Memphis. 

He committed to Belmont University, a private liberal arts college in Nashville.  There, he was picked for the 2009 All-Region team. He was also acknowledged as the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year during the 2011-12 season.

He played all four years at Belmont and entered the NBA Draft, but he went undrafted. His cousin Jennifer Clark-Bratcher saw him grow over the years and witnessed the ups and downs of his career. 

“With prayer and dedication, we’ve seen God’s given talents burst through Ian like never before,†she said. “He has had his shares of ups and downs like most, but as a praying and supportive family, we watched Ian play to the best of his ability.â€

Clark played in the NBA Summer League in 2013 for the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors. During the championship game, he scored 33 points, leading the Summer League Warriors team to victory over the Phoenix Suns. 

In addition to his high scoring, Clark won MVP of the championship game. His playing caught the interest of the Utah Jazz, who offered him a two-year contract. 

Over the next few years, Clark would find himself in-and-out of the NBA D-League. After being released by the Jazz and seeing a brief stint with the Denver Nuggets, Clark signed with the Golden State Warriors in the fall of 2015. Later that season, the Warriors went to the NBA Finals but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

During the offseason, Clark would re-sign with the Warriors, and they would again make it to the Finals but with a different outcome.

Clark-Bratcher still recalls the family’s reactions to the Warriors’ victory in Game 5, saying the experience was “surreal.â€

“I remember sitting on the couch screaming at the TV as I counted down the seconds for them to be named the NBA champions,†Clark-Bratcher said. “That moment for me is one I will never forget because my first cousin is and forever will be an NBA champion.â€

Clark’s cousin said he comes back to the Memphis Boys and Girls Club and mentors children. He emphasizes to them the importance of staying in school and pursuing a higher education.

“I wanted to be able to bring the trophy home and share it with my friends and family,†Clark said in a video interview produced by the Golden State Warriors. “They’ve been so supportive of me, and it’s kind of a big deal to coming back to Memphis.â€Â 

Clark signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in August. He will be one of three Pelicans shooting guards the upcoming season, along with Jrue Holliday and former Memphis Grizzly Tony Allen.