Two Former Thunderbirds Bring San Antonio Ties To Basketball’s Biggest Stage
As the city gears up for the NBA Finals and rallies behind the Spurs, another San Antonio story is quietly unfolding on the opposite sideline.
Two former Karen J. Wagner High School standouts — Jordan Clarkson and Kevin McCullar Jr. — are now members of the New York Knicks organization, giving San Antonio a hometown connection to both teams competing for basketball’s biggest prize.
While much of the attention is focused on the Spurs’ return to the NBA Finals, the presence of two former Wagner Thunderbirds on the Knicks roster serves as a reminder of the basketball talent that has emerged from San Antonio over the years.
From Wagner to the NBA Finals
Jordan Clarkson’s journey began at Karen J. Wagner High School, where he developed into one of the top basketball players in the region. As a senior in 2011, Clarkson averaged 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game while leading Wagner to a remarkable 38-2 record and a trip to the state semifinals. His performance earned him San Antonio High School Player of the Year honors.
After standout collegiate stops at Tulsa and Missouri, Clarkson was selected in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft with the 46th overall pick. Eleven seasons later, he has established himself as one of the NBA’s most respected veterans and reliable scorers.
Clarkson’s career highlight came in 2021 when he captured the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation as a consummate professional, contributing for multiple franchises while remaining one of the league’s most productive guards off the bench.
A Different Road to the League
Kevin McCullar Jr.’s path to the NBA followed a different route but started in the same place.
A former Wagner standout, McCullar continued his development through the college ranks before hearing his name called during the 2024 NBA Draft. Selected with the 56th overall pick, McCullar entered the league without the fanfare of a lottery pick but with a reputation for toughness, versatility and determination.
Now in his second professional season, McCullar is working his way through the Knicks organization on a two-way contract, continuing to prove that persistence can be just as valuable as pedigree when chasing an NBA dream.
San Antonio Roots on Both Sides of the Finals
The NBA Finals will understandably center on the Spurs’ pursuit of another championship, but Clarkson and McCullar represent a reminder that San Antonio’s basketball influence extends far beyond one franchise.
Long before Madison Square Garden, draft night and the NBA spotlight, both players were competing on local courts, wearing Wagner uniforms and representing the city’s rich basketball culture.
Ronald Geese, San Antonio Former Basketball Trainer
For Wagner High School, their success reflects years of hard work and development. For San Antonio, it offers another reason to celebrate as the NBA Finals begin.
No matter which team ultimately lifts the Larry O’Brien Trophy, two hometown products from San Antonio will have already achieved something remarkable: reaching basketball’s biggest stage.
