ANOTHER player of Filipino descent is set to showcase his talent in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in Filipino-American forward Jalen Green.
The 6-foot-6 Green was selected by the Houston Rockets as their No. 2 pick during the Rookie Draft on Thursday night (Friday in the Philippines) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
He is the second Filipino-American player in the upcoming 2021-2022 NBA Season, aside from Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson – who was hailed the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in the 2020-2021 Season.
The 19-year-old Green, whose mother Bree Purganan of Ilocos Sur, was considered one of the most exciting prospects among incoming newbies.
Green said in an interview that being drafted in the NBA is a fulfillment of his childhood dream. He looks forward to making the kababayans of his mother proud.
“I love the Philippines. They show love and support. I’m just happy to get to represent them,” Green added. “I’m happy that I have family out there, and I’m tied into the Philippines so, I’m excited, and I hope they’re excited [too].”
Green stood out during his NBA G-League stint with Team Ignite, where he averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 15 regular-season games.
Green is a welcome addition for the Rockets squad, which finished dead last in the Western Conference of the NBA season with a 17-55 win-loss record.
###
Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, bolstered its roster as it acquired veteran guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster trade.
Apart from Westbrook, the Lakers received the Wizards’ second-round pick in 2024 and 2028. The Wizards, on the other hand, got Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and LA’s No. 22 pick in yesterday’s draft.
This will be the third straight year where Westbrook is entering a new NBA season with a different team. He played for Houston Rockets and Wizards in his previous two years./PN
