Knicks’ Jordan Clarkson is first Filipino-American to win NBA title

Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. Pool/Getty Images/AFP 

MANILA, Philippines—Even before the 2026 NBA Finals tipped off, New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson made a declaration.

“One of us two [is] taking a championship back home to the Philippines and representing that well,” Clarkson said of him and San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper.

On Sunday (Manila time), that player turned out to be Clarkson, whose Knicks closed out the Spurs, 94-91, with another scintillating rally in Game 5 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

READ: Jordan Clarkson, Dylan Harper add Filipino flavor to NBA Finals

The Knicks’ victory made Clarkson the first player of Filipino descent to win an NBA championship, which was the franchise’s first in 53 years.

Clarkson, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year when he was still with the Utah Jazz, played just six minutes and finished with six points and a rebound off the bench. Jalen Brunson, who was named Finals MVP, led the Knicks with 45 points.

Harper, despite the loss, capped his impressive first season in the league with 25 points, five rebounds and four assists.

READ: Dylan Harper, Jordan Clarkson carry PH heritage in NBA Finals

“He has been really good throughout the whole year. I’ve been watching him, keeping up with him, as well, him being so young and having so much poise throughout this whole playoffs,” Clarkson said of Harper before the title series.

“It’s a great sight to see a young star coming in this league and doing what he’s doing.”

Representing the Philippines on a big stage isn’t new for Clarkson.

The 34-year-old Filipino-American guard suited up for the Philippines in the 2023 Fiba World Cup and in the Asian Games in 2018.