Hall of Famers Jason Kidd, Lauren Jackson, Tony Parker embrace Manila's basketball culture ahead of NBA House

Three basketball icons are in Manila to join Filipino fans for the first edition of NBA House in the Philippines this weekend.

Jason Kidd, Lauren Jackson, and Tony Parker are in the country for the event, which will be held at SPACE at One Ayala.

“It’s been great, I’m happy to be here in Manila,” Kidd said.

Kidd is an NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame twice—first in 2018 for his illustrious playing career and again in 2025 as a member of Team USA’s Redeem Team, which won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I know here in the Philippines basketball is a religion, and so I'm very happy to be here and see the fans this week,” he said.

Jackson, a two-time WNBA champion, seven-time WNBL champion in Australia, and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021, said she is also looking forward to experiencing the sport’s culture in the country.

“I am very excited to experience basketball culture here. I’ve heard so much about it,” she said.

Parker, meanwhile, is returning to the Philippines a decade after playing at the Mall of Asia Arena with the France national team in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

“It’s nice to be back in Manila. I had a great time in 2016. The energy here is amazing. You have so much love for the game and the NBA. It’s very special to come here, so I’m super happy to be back after 10 years,” he said.

Parker is a four-time NBA champion and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.

NBA House will feature various activities for fans, including a celebrity showdown, a local basketball exhibition, and performances by SB19 and Lola Amour.

—JMB, GMA News