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NBA’s top rookie Jared McCain flaunts Filipino heritage

by Bryan Gadingan

UY, PHILIPPINES! Another NBA player with Filipino heritage is likely to earn the country’s full support, as Philadelphia 76ers rookie star point guard Jared McCain claims to be partially Pinoy. 

McCain, dubbed “one of the most exciting rookies to watch in the world’s biggest league,” has been topping the NBA rookie ladder, and he was spotted honoring his Asian ancestry in a vlog. 

In an ESPN video, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie stated that he does have ties to the Philippines. “Shout out to my Asian community. I am a Filipino. I mean only like 10 percent, but that counts,” McCain said.

McCain will be the third active NBA player of Filipino ancestry, following former Sixth Man of the Year winner and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Jordan Clarkson and former Houston Rockets second-round pick Jalen Green. 

Clarkson was seen leaving a remark on the ESPN post with a Philippine flag. He has been recognized for years for his pride in his Filipino heritage, and he was eager to find ways to represent the national team. 

Star in the making 

The 20-year-old guard, who was picked 16th overall by Philadelphia, has been the team’s only bright spot in the early going this season, as they’ve struggled without its star players.

The 76ers are now 13th in the Eastern Conference standings, with a terrible 3-13 win-loss record. He fought his way up from bench player to starter alongside Tyrese Maxey. 

McCain averaged 16.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 16 games, making him the early favorite to win the Rookie of the Year title over fan favorite Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The youngster even had a seven-game streak of scoring 20 points or more, including a career-high 34 points in a loss to the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers (106-114).

Another “what if” for PH

McCain is a Sacramento native who competed for Team USA in the 2022 FIBA Under 18 AmeriCup Championships, where they won gold. Leaving the Filipinos with another “What if?”

Gilas Pilipinas, currently led by youthful guns Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, and AJ Edu, aspires to build around the national team’s future stars while also championing system continuity. 

Only if they are eligible, a lineup consisting of McCain, Clarkson, Green, Edu, and Sotto would be unstoppable and would last as long as they are still in their prime or have yet to reach the peak of their respective careers.

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