Dylan Harper, Jordan Clarkson sharing Filipino culture as basketball-crazed nation celebrates

Mornings in the Philippines generally start with a cup of coffee, some silog or pandesal, and a hunt for an NBA stream. Hoops are a part of life in the country, where children dribble a ball on their way to school.

Filipinos will watch basketball literally all day, starting with the NBA in the morning, college games in the afternoon, and the Philippine Basketball Association at night. When the NBA Finals roll around, there’s a tacit understanding that people will be watching at school, work, or anywhere else they happen to be.

This year is even more special for the country. One of the Knicks’ Jordan Clarkson or the Spurs’ Dylan Harper will become the first player of Filipino heritage to win an NBA championship. American media has caught onto the levity of the moment, turning it into a nice social media graphic. But for people of Filipino heritage, it is a defining milestone, and one that has been generations in the making for the most hoops-obsessed country in the world.

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It’s somewhat of a mystery why the Philippines are so passionate about basketball. The country is the NBA’s No. 3 market despite having a modest population of 118 million. Other sports that came with colonization in the 1900’s didn’t catch on nearly as well, yet a game dominated by giants resonated in a land where the average male stands at somewhere between 5’4″ and 5’5″.

That may explain why the Philippines haven’t had much international success in the sport. Their national team is currently 36th in FIBA rankings. Another reason is the lack of funding. The country’s entire sports commission operates on a budget that is eclipsed by NIL spending for some college football programs.

That hasn’t stopped Filipinos from adopting basketball as their national sport.

«You go to anywhere that’s middle income or below, you will see a makeshift basketball court. Whether it’s a piece of iron that they bend to make it round and tie to a coconut tree or street post or a legit hoop, it’s in the middle of the street. It’s the culture. It’s all over the place,» longtime Filipino media member TJ Manotoc told The Sporting News. «Even if they don’t have basketball shoes, people play in their flip flops.»

Those conditions have led to an underdog mentality where Filipinos will treat anyone who makes it as a hero.

«When we are able to perform internationally, we become completely obsessed with it because it’s like our way of saying ‘Hey, we can fit in,'» FOS reporter Colin Salao said to SN.

Filipinos embrace celebrities from Bruno Mars to Dave Bautista. Manny Pacquiao filled up movie theaters in Manila during his fights. Tennis sensation Alex Eala recently packed a 5,000-seat stadium at the Dubai Masters, much to the astonishment of her opponent Coco Gauff.

«The reason for that is because we’re everywhere,» Salao explained. «Our biggest export is humans. Labor pay is so low, so people find any way possible to leave.»

One of those emigrants was Maria Harper, whose parents brought her from Bataan, Philippines, to America at the age of seven. Harper’s ex-husband Ron is the more famous of the two, having won five championships between his time with the Bulls and Lakers. That helped Dylan’s rise in popularity in the Philippines.

«The entire fabric of Filipinos from 90’s basketball, they recognize that name,» ESPN anchor Aaron Atayde told SN. «And now Dylan being Filipino, it’s incredible for a lot of basketball fans.»

It was Maria who took chief ownership of training Dylan and older brother Ron Jr., who played in the NBA last season on the Celtics. Maria was a Division I basketball player at the University of New Orleans and spent decades in coaching after her playing days were over.

Maria taught her sons everything that she knew about basketball. She also exposed them to her culture. Recently, she saw an Instagram post showing Dylan participating in a youth Filipino-American game at Madison Square Garden when he was nine.

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«It just brought back memories of how close-knit I’ve tried to keep my kids into the Filipino community and heritage. It’s a beautiful sight to see today,» Maria said.

Maria’s mother taught her to be the best that she could be. Lillia Pizarro, or Lola to her grandkids, always put her four daughters before herself. Maria does the same for her kids, who all love Lola’s adobo. It’s Ron’s favorite pregame meal, and he was excited to move to Boston in part because of the better Filipino food. More important than the food were the values that she imparted on all three of her children.

Maria’s close relationship with Dylan was captured in a viral clip where the two embraced a hug after the Spurs won the Western Conference Finals.

Dylan Harper’s mom, Maria, breaks down her message to him during their postgame embrace 🫶@dy1anharper will make his first NBA Finals appearance in his rookie season! pic.twitter.com/yw64B1fcfM
— NBA (@NBA) May 31, 2026

Raymond Townsend was the first Filipino-American to ever play in the NBA. He was drafted by the Warriors in 1978. He watched the clip of the Harper family from 1700 miles away, at his home in San Jose. He saw Maria, but he also saw his own deceased mother.

«It brings tears to my eyes to see Dylan Harper hug his mom the way he did,» Townsend told me. «Because I know that feeling. Our mothers are the reason why I think Filipino Americans push themselves so hard to reach the epitome of greatness. We do it for our mothers. And that is something you have to be Filipino to understand, the power of women in our culture.»

Upon having Townsend’s words relayed to her, Maria’s voice began to crack.

«That just brought literal tears to my eyes. I don’t know him but I know him,» she said of Townsend.

«If that shines through with the way that we interact, and people are observing that without seeing our intimate moments, then I’ve clearly done my job as a mother and I’ve represented the Filipino culture the way that it deserves to be.»

Maria credits her culture with shaping her approach to parenting. She saw her oldest child Ron Jr. struggling under the pressure of his namesake. She had to find the balance between protecting him and allowing him to go through those life experiences on his own.

«I like to call him my crockpot,» she said. «It’s a slow simmer but what comes out is really delicious. I’m so proud of him for the strength that he has shown and proud of myself too for allowing him to go through those moments even though it was hard for me to watch.»

With Dylan, Maria tried to get him to understand the why of being hard on him, challenging him every day during 4 a.m. workouts or late nights and doing the extra things that she knew he needed to get to the next level. With her daughter Mia, it means driving up to three hours on some days to get her to cheer practices.

«My Filipino culture really helps me do that,» Maria said. «We came to this country with not much. We never forget where we came from. But we’re always striving to be a better version of ourselves.»

«She made sure that their roots stayed grounded in their culture,» Atayde noted. «The fruits of their labor, of all the Asian moms out there, are being put on full display.»

MORE: How Jalen Green, Jaylin Williams and Johnny Juzang are creating pathway for players of Asian descent

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Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Jordan Clarkson grew up at a different time in a different region of the country than the Harpers, but in many ways his journey was the same. His mother, who is half-Filipino, was born in the Philippines. Growing up in Texas, Clarkson experienced the culture through his maternal grandmother, as he told Vogue Philippines. She didn’t speak much English, so they bonded over adobo and lumpia. He wears a tattoo with Filipino flags flying over her face in order to honor her and the country that he has embraced.

Clarkson was always popular in the Philippines due to his heritage and his time with the Lakers, who are one of the most popular teams in the country. His fame went to a different level after he played for Gilas Pilipinas, the national team, during the 2018 Asian Games, the 2022 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, and the 2023 World Cup.

«The entire dream of Philippine fans came true when he suited up,» Atayde said.

That final appearance didn’t go as smoothly as Clarkson or the country had hoped. After a brutal loss, Clarkson covered his face on the sideline in visible distress. That moment tied him to the country forever.

Heartbreaking scene at the Philippine Arena as Gilas frontrunner Jordan Clarkson fouled out with some 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter against Dominican Republic.

Gilas suffered their first loss in the #FIBAWC, 81-87. (📷: @FIBAWC) pic.twitter.com/AtSondctup
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) August 25, 2023

«He wasn’t a mercenary that was going there and putting on the jersey,» Atayde said. «It meant the same to him, suiting up for the country, and he felt how much importance it had to us.»

Clarkson was following in the footsteps of other Americans who have become embraced by Filipinos. Andray Blatche was an NBA journeyman who mostly came off the bench during stints with the Wizards and Nets. After heading overseas and making numerous appearances for Gilas, he became known as Kuya Dray, or Big Brother Dray. He was a part of the family. The same went for Marcus Douthit, or Kuya Marcus, who was a former Lakers draft pick that played for the national team.

«I’ll never have Filipino blood, but as far as becoming a Filipino, I’ll always have it in my heart,» Douthit once told the nation.

«Being Filipino isn’t just about where you were born, or what family you were born into,» basketball analyst Conrado Pascual told SN. «Those guys not only eventually understood it, they completely embraced it. They showed that Filipino culture isn’t just restricted to the Philippines. It can be global, and it goes both ways.»

Townsend never got a chance to play for Gilas. He wasn’t even recognized as the first person of Filipino heritage to make it into the NBA until 20 years later, when people started doing homework on him. Like Harper, he is half-Black, half-Filipino.

«Coming from UCLA with an afro, I could have told you until I was blue in the face that I was Filipino, and nobody would have believed it because they would have said you’re Black,» Townsend said.

«I’ve been very proud to be a kababayan, and I’m very outspoken about my heritage, but the world wasn’t ready for it in the NBA when I was playing. I’m grateful that it is now, and I’m really excited for Jordan and Dylan playing in the NBA Finals.»

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Townsend hasn’t been able to meet Harper or Clarkson yet. When he does, he knows what he will say.

«I want to thank you for the dreams that you’re bringing to pass in so many young Filipinos. That’s what I would tell them. That I’m grateful, honored to meet them, and proud to pass on the torch to such gifted athletes.»

The dream for Filipinos still remains to have a homegrown star to represent them in the league. But Townsend, Blatche, Douthit, Clarkson, the Harper brothers, Jalen Green, Jared McCain, and others have shown that being Filipino isn’t defined by where you were born. It’s an energy, a state of mind, and a passion for caring for others.

Pascual told me of a saying in Tagalog, Para Sa Bayan, which he includes at the end of some of his tweets. The direct translation means ‘for the country’. In a broader sense, it means for the people, or for the greater good.

«Filipinos are very prideful, but it’s not just a matter of where you’re from and the blood you have in you,» Pascual explained. «It’s truly a way of life, and very much about serving one another.»

Townsend is a prime example. He dedicated himself to mentoring youth after his playing days were over, training players, creating a school for at-risk youth, a basketball league, and helping the NBA set up Filipino heritage nights. He’s served over 250,000 families in San Jose.

«Being Filipino, you could be born into it, but it’s just like America,» Pascual added. «America is a melting pot. And so are Filipinos. It’s also about Filipinos being able to go out into the world and share our culture, share our love for life, for laughter. And I feel like [Harper and Clarkson] do it.»

Maria Harper is already seeing the effects of her sons making it to the NBA on the people. The family recently launched a junior EYBL program called Harper U. At the first tryout, dozens upon dozens of Filipino kids showed up. Parents and kids told her how much it meant to see a human being that looks like them playing in the league.

Maria wants to make an impact abroad too. She hasn’t been back to the Philippines since she left the country as a child. She plans to take the family next summer and hopes to help the basketball community there in the future, whether that’s with the national team or a group of aspiring players.

Dylan and Clarkson have that care for the country as well. Media responsibilities during the NBA Finals can be grueling. Players will oftentimes default to rote responses. For Manotoc, who was the only Filipino media member in attendance in San Antonio during Game 1, he noticed something different when he asked Harper and Clarkson about their pride for the Philippines.

«We’re very blessed and grateful to be in this position.»

Jordan Clarkson and Dylan Harper speak on the love and support from their Filipino fanbase, as one of them will become the first NBA Champion from the Philippines! pic.twitter.com/BUINsE5e7b
— NBA (@NBA) June 2, 2026

«It’s there,» Manotoc told me. «Both of those guys were nice enough to discuss it because I noticed today that other players were asked other questions outside the game and they immediately gave a shallow answer. But these guys said it’s great for our community.»

That community will be eagerly waiting for a Filipino champion to be crowned. At 8:30 in the morning, they will be huddled around their phones, televisions, and office computers, cheering for every Harper drive and Clarkson 3.

Soon, the Larry O’Brien trophy will be presented in New York or San Antonio. A piece of it will travel to the hearts of every Filipino spread throughout the world.

Dylan Harper, Jordan Clarkson sharing Filipino culture as basketball-crazed nation celebrates

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