Filipino American and NBA history will be made in a basketball game, Oct. 28 Jazz vs. Rockets

When the NBA's Houston Rockets host the Utah Jaz on Oct. 28, expect a lot of Filipino Americans to be sitting in the Toyota Center.

Besides being Filipino Heritage Night, it will be the first time in the history of the sport that two players of Filipino descent play against each other, as the Rockets talented rookie Jalen Green takes on Jazz's outstanding sixth man Jordan Clarkson.

October 28 is the first time the Texas team has held a Filipino Heritage Night. Fans can avail a hat and a special post-game Q&A with Jalen Green. In addition to that, all fans in attendance will be given a special Jalen Green shirt.

The 6'-5" Green, who opted to forego a college scholarship to play in the NBA's G-league, was selected by the Rockets as the second overall pick in this year's NBA draft.

The Rockets aren’t the first to host a Filipino Heritage Night in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets did a similar event in 2016 when Clarkson visited as a member of the L.A. Lakers visited, in honor of the huge Filipino community in New York and New Jersey. 

The Golden State Warriors , with a fan base drawing from the large Filipino American community in the San Francisco Bay area, has been holding a Filipino Heritage Night annually for years. 

However, the Jazz-Rocket game in Houson will be a bit more special with the meeting of Clarkson and Green.

Green, the Rockets prized rookie guard, is born to a Filipina mother, and has played in the Philippines multiple times, albeit only in exhibition games. Jordan Clarkson's mother is also from the Philippines. 

Jordan Clarkson played for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games.

Both players may have a chance to be teammates representing the Philippines in FIBA-sanctioned events in the future.

Clarkson has already represented the Philippines in international play, suiting up for them during the 2018 Asian Games and Green has also expressed an interest in doing the same. 

“I love the Philippines. They show me love and support and I’m just happy to represent them," said Green. "I have family out there”.

Another Filipino high school basketball player signs up with the G League

Kai Sotto towered over his opponents in the Philippines.

Another Filipino straight out of high school has decided to skip college and sign up the NBA's G League.

Center Kai Sotto, a 7'2" prospect out of the Philippines, is following in the footsteps of another Filipino American highschooler, Jalen Green, who is also foregoing the traditional college route before turning pro.

The two will be teammates playing for a team based in Southern California. They met earlier when Californian Green played in the Philippines. 

"He played in the Philippines twice and we actually met in some FIBA tournaments," said Sotto to ESPN. "We're good friends. We talked a lot when he was in the Philippines. The first time he was there, he was the one who told me that I should play here in America."
Sotto turned 18 years old on Monday, April 11. He wants to become the first NBA player born in the Philippines. 

Sotto will become the G League’s first international player, according to journalist Shams Charania of The Athletic website.

The center, who turned 18 on Monday, is being heralded as potentially becoming the first fully-Filipino NBA player and he took a step closer to his dream on Monday by signing for the development league.

“There hasn't been any full-blooded Filipino that has been to the NBA and I just want to be the first one and I just want to show everyone that we can also make it,” Sotto told Bleacher Report in a mini-documentary earlier this year.

It is a move that could be worth more $500,000 over a one-year deal reports ESPN. Gaining experience in the G League will allow Sotto to develop and acquaint himself to the American-style of basketball.

"I'm really looking to develop] my strength and confidence to play against professional basketball players here in [the United States of America. And I think it will be a great preparation for me when it comes to the NBA," Sotto told ESPN.
Currently, Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson is the only Filipino American in the NBA.

Previously, Raymond Townsend, was the only Filipino American to play in the pros splitting three seasons with the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers.