MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson yesterday signed up with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2014-15 NBA season, becoming the second player with Filipino blood to get to play in the NBA.
Clarkson, acquired by the Lakers for $1.8 million in a draft-day trade with the Washington Wizards last June, is the 13th Lakers player with a contract, which reportedly amounts to a rookie minimum $507,336.
Unless he gets injured or his contract is rescinded and get cut on opening day, Clarkson will be the second Fil-Am player after Raymond Townsend to play in the NBA.
Townsend, a 6’3, 175-pound point guard from UCLA who was the last pick in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.
Townsend’s mother, Virginia Marella, is a Filipina who hails from Balayan, Batangas.
“I’m part Filipino and I’m looking to be the first or one of the first Filipino-Americans to play in the NBA. I know the country is backing me. I hope to be able to visit there in the future,” Clarkson told slamonline.com recently.
The 6-5, 22-year-old Clarkson made the cut after coming through with a strong NBA summer league where he led the Lakers in scoring by averaging 15.8 points after shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 42.1 from the three-point area and 88.2 from the free throw line in five games.
Clarkson, who played for University of Missouri and selected 46th overall, will join an LA team already loaded with guards – Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin, Nick Young and Xavier Henry.
The Lakers can list a maximum of 20 players during training camp starting next month but will have to trim it down to not more than 15 in the NBA opener where they will host the Houston Rockets on Oct. 29 (Phl time).