2 Filipino American NBA players faced off Thursday night, a league first

NBA players Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz and Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets made history during October’s Filipino American History Month.

For Filipino Americans, Thursday night’s game between the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets was more than just another basketball game. It was history in the making as Jordan Clarkson and Jalen Green became the first two Filipino American players to share the court in an NBA game. And with October being Filipino American History Month, what better time for such a momentous occasion?

Clarkson, who’s grandmother is from the Philippines, spoke about what this moment meant to him saying “It means a lot to me to represent the Filipino American community because I’m so proud to share that bond.

Jordan Clarkson, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, took to Twitter last month to show his support for a Filipino food truck in Salt Lake City that had been vandalized with anti-Asian slurs.
“I’m heartbroken to see this,” Clarkson tweeted. “No one deserves to be treated like this. I’ll be reaching out to help them restore their truck.”

Clarkson, who also played for the Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, during the 2018 Asian Games, has been vocal about standing up against racism and discrimination.