Jordan Clarkson vows to play for Filipino National Team
Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson is trying to get in better touch with his roots.
In a recent interview with Rahul Lal of CBS Los Angeles, Clarkson, whose mother is half-Filipina, vowed to one day play for the Filipino National Team.
“We’re going to make playing for the Filipino National Team happen,” said Clarkson. “It just comes with time and being able to connect with those people. I feel all the support and love they had throughout my years in the NBA, so I’m still trying to do well for them and, hopefully, be able to put on for my country.”
The 24-year-old Clarkson, who is averaging 14.7 points per game this season, is not yet eligible to suit up for the national team. But in recent years, we’ve seen some fairly notable NBA players flirt with the idea of going through the naturalization process to play for the Philippines, including Andray Blatche, who successfully did so, and this current Golden State Warriors center.
Clarkson is one of the only Filipino-Americans in the NBA today, so an appearance on their national team would obviously be warmly welcomed by the Philippines, whose passion for the sport of basketball is near unparalleled.
