Clarkson has already arrived.
The 23-year-old University of Missouri product earned first-team All-Rookie honors last season while bringing hope to forlorn fans of the Los Angeles Lakers. He's spent the summer hanging out with his girlfriend, Victoria's Secret model Chanel Iman, touring around Asia, including a week-and-a-half in the Philippines (his mother is half Filipino) and working out with longtime trainer Drew Hanlen, whose growing list of clientele is littered with the NBA's elite.
But in so many other ways, Clarkson is still climbing uphill.
The Lakers, fresh off their worst campaign in franchise history, spent the offseason loading up on competition for Clarkson's spot.