Kobe Paras: ‘I’m not all about dunks’

MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras became a highlight reel favorite in the Philippines because of his high-flying dunking ability, but ever since moving to the United States, the former La Salle Greenhills standout has expanded his game. 

According to Paras, who’s currently a junior at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles, California, he’s not just “all about dunks.” 

One of his coaches at Cathedral High, William Middlebrooks, agrees with his player’s sentiment. 

“Most people know him for his dunking, but he can shoot the 3, he dribbles, he passes, so he’s pretty highly-skilled and he’s adapting to the style of play in America,” Middlebrooks says in a video released by the Los Angeles Times. “It’s different, he said, from where he came from.”

“It’s been a great experience,” Paras says in the clip. “Coming from the Philippines, it’s a really big move for me. I’m just doing what I do best, especially with this program helping me.” 

Paras moved to Los Angeles in 2013 for a better chance at a future in basketball, which, according to him, wouldn’t have been available in the Philippines.

“The one reason I came here is because in the Philippines it’s not that big of a deal for basketball,” Paras said. 

“If you’re a star there, nothing else is going to happen, you’re just big there. I know in the United States, I know it’s big for everything so I just want to come here and show what I could [do].” 

(WATCH: Kobe Paras puts on dunking exhibition)

What he can do, according to him, is more than just dunking the ball.

“I’m not all about dunks,” Paras said, before later adding: “I just want to show everybody that it’s not all about dunks or the highlights; it’s about what you do in the court.”

Kobe, son of former two-time PBA MVP Benjie Paras, recently committed to play US NCAA Division I college basketball for Coach Steve Alford and the UCLA Bruins – the winningest school in NCAA history with 11 national championships.

UCLA has also produced some of the best players to set foot in the NBA like Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Reggie Miller, Kevin Love, and Russell Westbrook.

“People know that UCLA, that’s the biggest thing in California. And ever since I was here, I really wanted to go to UCLA,” Paras told Bruin Sports Report TV. 

 

Paras was discovered when Coach Alford saw him practice one day with Cathedral High. It didn’t take long for the UCLA head coach to offer the promising Filipino talent a spot in his team after.

“He compared me to Zach LaVine,” says Paras, referring to UCLA’s former high-flyer who’s now a rookie with the Minnesota Timberwolves. “He said that my basketball IQ was kinda better than his, and we’re both athletic. So it’s really cool when he said that because no one compares me to anyone.” 

“Steve is a great guy,” Paras, a member of the Philippines U-18 national basketball team, said about the UCLA coach. “When he told me he wanted to offer me, in my head, I was just like, ‘I want to commit right away.'”

And he did. In 2016, Paras will wear the name of the school that many other NBA greats before him did before they turned pro. However, the Philippine native isn’t looking too far into the future just yet. He still has to finish his high school education and is making it a point to stay grounded despite his increasing fame.

“I don’t like bragging about stuff, because I know that if people were in my situation, they’re going to do the same thing about it,” he said.

“I’ve been talking to my parents a lot, so I already know what I can do and cannot do, so I just want to stay humble about it.”

But in two years – granted UCLA and him stay committed to each other – Paras will get the opportunity to help lead the Bruins to their first national title since 1995.

“With the history of UCLA, I can just bring a certain amount of things… let’s just see what happens.”

– Rappler.com