LA Lakers’ Fil-Am rookie in town
HE’S the closest Philippine connection in the NBA.
Jordan Clarkson, the Los Angeles Lakers guard who has always proudly declared his Filipino roots, arrived in Manila for the first time yesterday hoping to thank the local fans after a surprisingly successful season where he landed a spot in the 2015 NBA All-Rookie Team.
The 22-year-old Clarkson will be joined by Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz and NBA legend Horace Grant in a series of league activities, including an NBA Cares basketball clinic in Tondo, starting today.
“The Pinoy fans have been very supportive of me all year long, and I can’t wait to thank them in person,” Clarkson said in a statement before his arrival.
And Clarkson indeed looked raring to go, looking cheerful as he waved to fans after landing late afternoon wearing a blue hoodie, camouflage pants and a pink backpack.
Clarkson’s mother, Annette Davis, hails froms Angeles, Pampanga, and in previous interviews, the 6-foot-5 stalwart said he was “raised in poverty in the Philippines” before coming to the United States.
Although drafted 46th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, Clarkson got his break with the absence of Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant due to injury.
Clarkson readily stepped up and wound up ranking second among rookies in points per game at 11.9 and third in assists per game at 3.6.
Joining Clarkson in the NBA All-Rookie team were Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Mirotic, Orlando Magic’s Elfrid Payton and Philadelphia 76ers’ Nerlens Noel.
Clarkson and Burke will attend viewing parties of the Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets in Game 2 today and Game 3 on Sunday at NBA Cafe Manila at SM Aura.
