NBA: Fil-Am guard Jordan Clarkson officially signs with LA Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of Filipino-American rookie Jordan Clarkson to a deal on Monday.

 

The 6-foot-5 guard from Missouri was acquired in a draft day deal with the Washington Wizards, who selected him with the 46th overall pick.

 

Clarkson's mother Annette has roots in Pampanga, and he has previously talked about representing the Philippines in the NBA.

 

"It's a great feeling; I’ve got the country behind me," said Clarkson in an earlier interview with lakersnation.com. "It feels great. That’s also driving me too, just being one of the first. I’m just trying to make a mark here and find a significant role.”

 

He performed well in Summer League play for the Lakers, drawing praise from the coaching staff.

 

"I think Clarkson has great explosiveness going to the basket, he has a tremendous pull-up jumper, but the thing about Jordan Clarkson is that he’s always in the right place at the right time," Lakers’ summer-league co-coach Mark Madsen told the Los Angeles Times last month. — JST, GMA News