Minnesota Timberwolves select Jaylen Clark in 2023 NBA Draft

UCLA guard Jaylen Clark has his new home. The National Defensive Player of the Year has been selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 53 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Clark declared for the draft after the end of this past season despite suffering an Achilles injury in the Pac-12 regular season finale that required surgery.

In addition to winning the national’s DPOY, Clark earned a spot on the the Pac-12 All-Defensive team and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award.

The rangey Clark had always been one of the better defenders in the Pac-12 since his freshman year but his offense took a major step forward this past season, his first one as a full-time starter for UCLA.

The 6-foot-5 Clark averaged 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game while shooting 32.6% from beyond the arc.

Clark went to high school at Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Etiwanda, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 86 overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Jaylen Clark

Jaylen Clark’s defensive skills that made him the top defender in college basketball should translate to the next level. His offensive game is more unrefined but the steps he did demonstrate a lot of improvement as a junior.

“Clark measured 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan at the NBA Combine,” RotoWire’s evaluation of the former UCLA guard said. “His athleticism, technique, and turnover-forcing skills on defense are rare. Clark is strong with impressive agility. He also graded as one of the better pick-and-roll ballhandlers in the country this season. Clark is a righty who is comfortable finishing everywhere around the basket. He shot 67.4% at the rim in 2022-23, fueled by good off-ball activity and a handle that allows him to knife inside fluidly.”