Jordan Clarkson is the first Filipino player to win an NBA team award, helping the New York Knicks capture the 2025 NBA Cup with 15 points off the bench.
The New York Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup on Tuesday night, and Jordan Clarkson made history for the Philippines in the process.
New York Knicks / Schedule
No NBA player with Filipino heritage had ever won an NBA team award—whether an NBA championship or an NBA Cup—until Clarkson achieved the feat.
Clarkson holds dual citizenship with the Philippines and the United States, with his Filipino citizenship coming through ancestral descent.
The 33-year-old guard contributed 15 points off the bench in the Knicks' 124-113 final victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
NBA Cup MVP Jalen Brunson mentioned Clarkson in his post-game speech on the podium: "OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson—they played their a** off tonight. Without them, we don't win this s**t."
Clarkson, who was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2021, is a 12-year NBA veteran. He has played for the Lakers, Cavaliers, Jazz, and now the Knicks. In July, he signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with New York.
This season, he is averaging 9.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
Over his career, the Gilas Pilipinas member has scored 40+ points off the bench in four games, ranking second all-time in NBA history for such performances.
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