The Road Diary: Ian Clark

Ian Clark has played basketball all over the globe, won an NBA championship, and teamed up with some of the sport’s biggest names, but returning to a locker room in Tasmania brought back some fond memories.

The 190cm combo guard was back in Hobart last Wednesday for the first of the 36ers two-game road trip and he said walking into the change rooms at MyState Bank Arena was special.

“A little bit (special), I thought about it, especially walking into the locker room for the first time,” Clark said.

“The last time I was in there was after DJ (Vasiljevic) hit that big shot.

“That crowd, when it got loud, it took me back a little bit.”

Clark famously went everywhere with the championship basketball after game three and he still knows where it lives.

“It’s at home, it’s at my parents house,” he said.

When it comes to life on the road as a basketballer, Clark says there’s not much difference at all.

“Being in the States is a little different, but most of them (road trips) are basically the same,” he said.

“It’s about travelling with the guys, and having that comradery to bond off the court.

“That’s what I enjoy the most about road trips.”

One big factor in the NBA is the travel in private jets, and Clark did admit not having to wait in airport queues is a big luxury.

“It sure is easier getting on a plane,” he said.

“You just drive your car right up to the plane, get out and go on with all your bags.

“It’s a little simpler.”

Once on the plane, Clark also keeps it very simple.

“Sleep, I try to sleep, I try to read, I’ve got a few books that interest me, so I take advantage of that until I pass out,” he said.

“I watch some Netflix too, but when I watch, I binge.

“I’m one of those guys, once I start, I can’t stop.”

The 36ers were away for five days last week for road games against the JackJumpers and Wildcats and Clark is used to living out of a suitcase.

“The longest road trip in the NBA is about a week and a half, maybe two weeks, so it’s a lot of packing,” he said.

Clark said during his time in NBA he never used an alias when checking into hotels.

“I don’t, but some of the guys do, the bigger name guys have to, for protection, there’s always fans wanting autographs,” he said.

The 2017 NBA champion shared the court with a roster including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, but he said travelling with those superstars is no different to any other teammate.

“Those guys it’s just like travelling with any other teammate,” Clark said.

“Obviously from the outside looking in people would think it would be different, but once you get into the locker room with those guys, they’re the same.

“They want to play the card games, they want to sleep.”

Speaking about card games, Clark said the one played by Kai Sotto, Sunday Dech, Kyrin Galloway, Hyrum Harris and Deng Acuoth in every airport the 36ers have been to is one that has sparked his interest.

“I am about to go play it right now,” Clark said in the airport lounge before the team flew back to Adelaide on Sunday.

“I don’t know the name of it, I’ve never played it before, but it’s something I’ve got use to.

“We had card games on the road last year (at the Kings), so it’s really cool to learn a new game.”

The 330-game NBA guard said he has no superstitions when traveling, only a few when it comes to game day.

“I like to try and keep everything the same, so I’m going into the game feeling the same way.”

Clark has spent his entire career on the road without a roommate, he likes to have his own space.

“I suppose you can call that my superstition,” he said.