NBA CLEARS CLARKSON FOR ASIAD
After initially denying Jordan Clarkson’s request to play in the Asian Games, the NBA cleared him to play for Gilas Pilipinas
The NBA had a sudden change of heart and cleared Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson to suit up for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games that kicks off this week in Indonesia.
“(The) NBA gave the nod, allowing JC to play at the (Asian Games). We will have to plead to INASGOC and OCA for his re-entry to play. JC will take the earliest flight available to Jakarta to make it to our game against Kazakhstan,” Chef de Mission Richard Gomez said in a text message to ABS-CBN.
Clarkson was initially barred to play in the Asian Games because it wasn’t one of the tournaments that the NBA and FIBA agreed upon, which are the Olympics, the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Continental Cup competitions and associated qualifying tournaments.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) questioned the NBA’s decision because China has two NBA players who are playing in the Asian Games – Houston Rockets center Zhou Qi and Dallas Mavericks forward Ding Yanyuhang.
Clarkson was included in Gilas Pilipinas’ initial 12-man roster but was replaced by Don Trollano after the NBA’s initial decision of barring him from playing for the Philippines. The 26-year-old Clarkson is reinserted into the lineup, which got the nod of the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia according to ABS-CBN.
The 6’5” Clarkson joins 45-year-old veteran center Asi Taulava, Gabe Norwood, Christian Standhardinger, Maverick Ahanmisi, Raymond Almazan, Beau Belga, Poi Erram, Paul Lee, Stanley Pringle, Chris Tiu and James Yap. The team will be mentored by Yeng Guiao.
The Philipines takes on Kazakhstan in its opening game on Thursday.
Clarkson, who’ll make his debut for the Philippines, is a fouryear NBA veteran. He was drafted No. 46 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He was traded last season to the Cavaliers and played alongside Lebron James in the NBA Finals.
Clarkson has a career average of 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a steal in 301 NBA regular season games. /