Jason Brickman eyes Europe, not PBA, after ABL Finals
Jason Brickman of the Westports Malaysia Dragons (right) defends Wong Wei Long of the Singapore Slingers during Game 2 of the 2016 ASEAN Basketball League Finals on Sunday, March 13, 2016, at MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ABL/Kuk Thew
KUALA LUMPUR — The PBA is a possible destination for Jason Brickman, but don’t expect to see the Fil-American point guard playing in the Philippines anytime soon.
Brickman has the PBA part of his plans but returning to Europe is at the top of the list.
“I definitely want to play in the PBA someday. I know there’s an age rule. I don’t know about next year, I think here in Asia or Europe and maybe a year or two, I’ll go to the PBA,” the 24-year-old Brickman told Filipino reporters after helping the Malaysia Dragons win Game 2 of the 2016 ASEAN Basketball League Finals on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.
READ: Malaysia bounces back, ties ABL Finals vs Singapore in Game 2
Under league rules, Filipino-Foreigners like Brickman, have to play one season in the PBA D-League to be eligible for the PBA Rookie Draft unless the player is 27 years old or older.
Brickman doesn’t see himself taking that road of making a stop in the D-League.
“I don’t think so,” Brickman said when asked if he has the D-League in his sight. “I’ll probably in Europe next year for a year or two and then get ready for the PBA.”
The 6-foot Brickman had a celebrated collegiate career with the Long Island University Brooklyn Blackbirds where he made history as only the fourth player in NCAA Division I to record at least 1,000 career assists.
READ: Fil-American Jason Brickman makes history in US NCAA Division I
After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, Brickman tried his luck overseas.
He played in the Russian Basketball Super League, a second-tier league in Russia, as part of Dynamo Moscow in 2014 before taking his basketball career to Germany where he suited up in the Basketball Bundesliga, the top professional club league in the country the following year.
Despite having several options available, Europe remains as Brickman’s No.1 priority.
“I just think that there’s a really high competition in Europe. A lot of really good leagues. the top leagues over there are really good. I played there last year and I feel that I’m ready to go back. I feel like I’m a better player now,” said Brickman.
