Dylan Harper, Jordan Clarkson carry Filipino heritage in NBA Finals

MANILA – The Philippines will be well represented in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals featuring the San Antonio Spurs, who have fast-rising rookie Dylan Harper, and the New York Knicks, with 2021 Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson.

Harper’s mother, Maria, was born and raised in the province of Bataan before moving to the US when she was seven. Clarkson’s mother, Annette Davis, also has Filipino roots and was born in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Spurs booked a title date with the Knicks, who swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, after dethroning the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on May 30.

“It’s a blessing to represent the Philippines, where I’m from. I think Jordan Clarkson and I are doing a great job doing that, but I think the biggest thing is what’s in front of me,” said 20-year-old Harper during the press conference after San Antonio’s 111-103 victory.

Clarkson, who turns 34 on June 7, has represented the Philippines at the Fiba World Cup and Asian Games. He will be making his second NBA Finals appearance since his 2018 run with Cleveland.

The Spurs are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since becoming champions in 2014 with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard as their core.

Game 1 tips off on June 3 in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander claimed the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award this season and is arguably the best player in the sport, with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets the only contender able to make a reasonable case.

But the Thunder star described the 2025-26 campaign as a failure on May 31, a day after his side lost to the Spurs in Game 7 of the West Finals to end their hopes of winning consecutive titles.

That means Gilgeous-Alexander will begin his off-season earlier than expected.

“I failed at my goal,” the 27-year-old said during his exit-day press conference.

“I didn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve. But I learn the most about myself and make the greatest amount of increases in my career when I fail and don’t get what I want. I look at this no different.

“I didn’t get where I wanted to go this season. There’s a reason for that. Now I have to look at that reason and try to make sure it never happens again.”

He averaged 25.9 points per game in the series, including three games with 30 points or more. But he shot just 40.9 per cent from the field, well off his stellar 55.3 rate during the regular season, when he also averaged 31.1 points per game. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, REUTERS