MANILA – Utah Jazz point guard Jordan Clarkson of the National Basketball Association (NBA) lauded his fellow Filipino-American player Jalen Green for recently becoming the first high school prospect to join the NBA G-League’s elite program.
Through a social media post on April 19, Clarkson described Green’s NBA G-League move as a “game changer” since the latter shunned numerous offers from giant National University Athletic Association schools like Memphis and Auburn to play college ball. Green also received deals to play in Australia’s National Basketball League.
Clarkson – the second Filipino-American player in NBA – said in previous interviews that he has been keeping tabs on Green. He wants to share the court with him someday.
“I look forward to watching him grow as a player and hopefully maybe step in the NBA court, make a name for himself,” Clarkson told ABS-CBN Sports before.
Under the G-League’s new program, Green
will be handed out a contract that is reportedly worth $500,000. He will also
be under the tutelage of NBA veterans, be given academic classes and still be
allowed to have a shoe deal.
The 17-year-old Green is expected to be 2021 NBA Draft’s No. 1 overall pick./PN
