NBAsians

The world’s ultimate basketball league is largely African-American territory. It takes a seven-foot standout with a never-before-seen skill to barge into their impenetrable monopoly. They must need you more than you need them.

But a few players of Asian descent ascended to basketball immortality for having played in the NBA, with the Chinese leading the way. Not a surprise, they account for close to 20% of world population. Do the math, ratio and proportion. In fact, Chinese NBA fans outnumber all Americans.

Mengke Bateer is the first Chinese player to be part of a champion team, although he didn’t play in the title-winning playoff run of the Spurs in 2003. He also holds the distinction of being the only Asian to enter the league without being drafted. Conversely, Wang Zhizhi is the first NBA player drafted from China. Hall of famer Yao Ming, the most dominant center during his time, was also center of attention in the league’s attempt at what was known global expansion then, inclusivity now.

 Then there are players of Japanese, Korean, Indian and Taiwanese ancestry. Japanese-American Wataru Misaka is the first non-caucasian to nix the monopoly with the Knicks, albeit briefly in 1947, the same year Jackie Robinson broke color barrier in baseball.

Phoenix Suns point guard Yuta Tabuse is the first Japanese-born player to play an NBA game. A 5’9”, he is two inches taller than Johnny Abarrientos, the greatest PBA point guard. A small margin that lends credence to the story the Flying A was offered to play in the 90s. It was not a hoax. Growth pills are.

Portland center Ha Seung-Jin is the first Korean to play in the NBA whose career-defining moment was the Trail Blazers’ 106-103 victory against the Lakers in 2005. Then Linsanity erupted when Chinese-Taiwanese Jeremy Lin rewrote Asian invasion in fairy-tale fashion.

We are not far behind. Two players of Filipino lineage at least validated national obsession with basketball. In the distant past, Fil-Am Raymond Townsend was the first NBA player with Filipino bloodline who was drafted by the Warriors in 1978. At present, Jordan Clarkson, who now plays for the Utah Jazz, Filipinized himself when he suit up for our national color in the last Asiad, even if he only shares half our blood.     

We do not lack for homegrown talent who came close. Kobe Paras was a legitimate NBA prospect but now wears maroon. He may have foreign blood but is a true Isko, in and out of the state university. Japeth Aguilar was the first homegrown talent drafted in the development league but didn’t make the final cut. Could the future belong to Kai Sotto? The kid stands 7’2” and is pure Filipino who could sing the national anthem and presumably recite the panatang makabayan verbatim. If he hasn’t, somebody please tell him to do so or else he becomes stateless.

From Junior NBA, the young basketball prodigy has taken the best alternate route to realize his ultimate dream by joining the first G League Select Team which president welcomed him with a description fit for a future king – the best young player from Asia.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that in time, Kai fulfills the entire country’s expectation for him to make the cut millions of kids worldwide would die for. He is one of the better Sottos who makes us smile with pride as Filipinos. A few others just make us laugh.