Jordan Clarkson wants to help Gilas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines – Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson has been the talk of the town since arriving on Thursday in his mother’s ancestral hometown of the Philippines.

The 22-year-old from San Antonio, Tex. was recently named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, but the other team he’d like to be a part of is the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball squad.

(IN PHOTOS: Jordan Clarkson teaches basketball skills in Tondo)

The only way he could play for the team is if he becomes a naturalized Philippine citizen however, due to a FIBA rule requiring players to have citizenship in the country they represent before turning 16-years-old.

Gilas already has two naturalized Filipino players: Marcus Douthit and Andray Blatche, both of whom stand 6-feet-11 tall. 

“I think the difficult thing for [Clarkson] is that traditionally the Philippines need a big man in the naturalized role,” said team head coach Tab Baldwin.

(READ: Jordan Clarkson on his Filipino heritage: ‘It’s why I play’)

But even if not by playing, Clarkson wants to contribute to Gilas, who went 1-4 in the FIBA World Cup in Seville, Spain, last September. 

“If I have the opportunity, if it presents itself, I would love to do that,” he said. Coaching, maybe? “Yeah, yeah, for sure.”

“I saw a little bit (of Philippines in the World Cup). I didn’t get to really watch much… I saw a couple of stuff here and there, [but] I saw some plays and stuff and it’s pretty good. I feel like we’re going to come around. We’re going to make some stuff happen.” – Rappler.com