10 famous Filipino NBA players 2023

In the Philippines, basketball is by far the most popular sport, with amateurs, professionals, and even local celebrities participating. In addition to being fairly easy to learn, the sport fits the Philippines well because of its strategic and dynamic elements, which make the game entertaining for both players and spectators.

1. Jordan Clarkson

A professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association, Jordan Taylor Clarkson is of Filipino and American descent. He was born in Tampa, Florida, to Filipino-American Annette Tullao Davis and African-American Mike Clarkson. Bacoor, Pampanga, is where his mother Marcelina Tullao Kingsolver hails from.

2. Jalen Green

Bree Puruganan, Green’s mother, is descended from the Philippines through her grandpa. His stepfather, Marcus Green, played basketball with NBA player DeShawn Stevenson at Washington Union High School in Fresno.

3. Raymond Townsend

California’s San Jose is where Raymond Townsend was born. He is half-Filipino; his father, Ray Sr., is American and his mother, Virginia Marella, is a Filipina from Balayan, Batangas.

4. Josh-Pierre Louis

Although Pierre-Louis’ great grandmother is a full-blooded Filipino and his mother has a 1/4 Filipino ancestry, he is unable to represent the Gilas team if he ever decides to play for the Philippine national team due to a lack of a Filipino passport.

5. Ron Harper Jr.

His father, Ron Harper, was an NBA veteran with 15 years of experience who won five NBA titles while playing college basketball for Miami (Ohio). His mother, Maria (née Pizarro), is of Filipino descent and played collegiate basketball for New Orleans before becoming a teacher.

6. Jarod Lucas

Jarod Lucas, who was born to an American father and a Filipina mother, lives and breathes sports alongside the rest of his family. His father Jeff teaches physical education and coaches high school basketball.

7. Kamaka Heba

Father of Kamaka Hepa, Roland Hepa, is of Hawaiian and Filipino descent and was born in Kapa’a, Hawaii.

8. Kihei Clark

Through his mother Sharon, whose family was originally from Ilocos but subsequently settled in Hawaii, Kihei Clark can trace his Filipino lineage. His two brothers are named Nalu and Shaka.

9. DJ Mitchell

DJ Mitchell, a shooting guard of Filipino descent with the Hartford Hawks, came very close to realizing his ambition in 2020 when his squad advanced to the America East conference final.

10. Nate Robinson

The 5-9 guard’s mother, Renee Busch, reportedly revealed in an interview that her grandpa was Filipino, according to “Pacific Rims” author Rafe Bartholomew, and Boston Celtics reserve Nate Robinson has already confirmed on the website of Dime Magazine that he is 1/8 Filipino.