LOS ANGELES – Raymond Townsend (the first NBA player of Filipino descent) is hoping to see another Filipino make it in the league in his lifetime.
“I believe it. I know it’ll happen,” he said to the Asian Journal.
The 56-year-old Townsend sees Jeremy Lin’s recent success in the league as the first Taiwanese or Chinese American to make it in the NBA and believes Lin’s ascent can not only help other Asian Americans but also young Filipino Americans who want to pursue basketball.
Lin’s remarkable story also goes beyond basketball, he said.
“I was the first one,” said Townsend, referring to being the first Pinoy in the NBA in the late 1970s. “I think for anybody that carries a torch like I did and what Jeremy is doing, it carries a lot of responsibilities. It makes the world better. Jeremy Lin has raised the bar of expectation for us Asian and Filipino-Americans. His success makes the world better not just in basketball but gives Asian American kids the ability to know they can achieve their dreams in anything. I give Jeremy all the credit for handling his recent success with humility and grace.”
Townsend knows Lin well from his days in the Bay Area. Townsend was the director of a recreation basketball league where Lin and his high school team would play.
“I remember him,” said Townsend, who after winning several championships with John Wooden at UCLA, played for the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers. “He was a baller. It was easy to recognize him because there weren’t a lot of good Asian basketball players back then.”
The legendary Lin
Lin was not only good. He was a legend in Northern California, leading his high school team to a state championship and winning player of the year honors. Despite his success, the 6’3”, 200-pound point guard was not offered a single NCAA Division I scholarship offer to play basketball. Lin went on to Harvard and also performed well.
Undrafted coming out of college, he was signed by the Golden State Warriors, played in their NBA development league (D-League), released, signed by the Houston Rockets, cut again before finding a home in New York with the Knicks earlier this year.
Lin was on his way to being released again by the Knicks when, forced by injuries in the lineup, the coach Mike D’Antoni thrust him in a game against the New Jersey Nets and the rest is history.
For the first time playing significant minutes, he scored 25 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out seven assists. D’Antoni made Lin into a starter and since injecting him into the New York Knicks starting lineup, “Linsanity” emerged.
Lin has revitalized a sagging Knicks team, energized a basketball and Asian fan base and propelled the Knicks from cellar dweller in the Eastern Atlantic division to third place riding a seven game win streak (as of Friday). He’s captivated the world with his “Linderella” story – from a 12th man nobody riding the bench to super star starter averaging more than 20 points the past seven games.
“That’s what makes this story great,” said Townsend. “I’m really proud and honored for him to have this opportunity. He’s very fortunate. One thing I’ve always said is with NBA players, they can all play ball or else they wouldn’t be in the league. But once you become a starter it’s a whole different thing than coming off the bench. It’s about the opportunities.
“When I was a starter, I averaged 12 points a game. He’s getting more opportunities, playing more minutes so he can do all the things he’s doing now. It also helps that he’s playing for one of the best point guards during his time in Europe, Mike D’Antoni.”
Even with the significant playing time, no one expected Lin to be this good.
Coaching Lin
Fil-Am coach Hernando Planells served as an assistant coach under Austin Ainge for the Maine Red Claws, the official D-league team for the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats, last season. Planells remembers coaching against Lin, who at that time was the point guard for the Reno Bighorns, Golden State’s D-league affiliate.
“Last year, Lin played for Reno. I think he had 28 points. He was good. But he was one of those guys that you aren’t sure how good he’s going to be,” said Planells to the Asian Journal.
“His success is a big sign that there are Asian players and from other ethnic backgrounds who can play this game at a high level,” he added.
“For such a long time the NBA has pushed hard that length and athleticism are the key ingredients to be an NBA player but Lin is showing that ‘knowing how to play’ and being able to take advantage of his opportunity are as equally important, if not more.”
Both Townsend and Planells are optimistic that a Filipino can one day make it in the NBA similar to Lin but cautions that it’s a tough road and that he will have to overcome a lot of barriers.
According to ESPN, quoting latest NCAA numbers, Asian-Americans make up just 0.4 percent of Division I basketball rosters, which equates to 20 players out of 5,051. There are only a handful of players of Filipino descent currently playing major college basketball.
“Lin payed his dues,” said Townsend. “He’s bounced around the league. He’s had his hurdles like everybody else but unlike everybody else he’s overcome all those obstacles.”
Planell, a former NBA scout, said no one talks about it but race and ethnicity will be a factor when it comes to recruiting and opportunity.
“I think we all do overlook talent because of race – in Lin’s case there was no one like him, no one that anyone can compare him to – so he gets overlooked, but he is someone who has worked hard and given himself an opportunity to succeed,” said Planells. “It’s really a case where its tough for the main decision makers for any team professionally or college to take a chance of what is outside the norm and in this case, Jeremy Lin would be considered outside the norm.
“If you try to sell a GM (general manager) and you tell him he’s not Black or White, you better believe in this kid in order to justify your job. it’s like that in any sport.”
Regarding who can make it in the league, both men said they believe an American of Filipino descent, not a person from the Philippines, will be the next one to make it in the NBA.
“I would love to see someone from the Philippines make it,” said Townsend. “But it’s going to be very hard to get somebody from the Philippines like a professional PBA player to make it in the NBA. They have a great reputation in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association), they make great money and are comfortable, but ego will get in the way. Many of those players don’t want that legacy of being one of the top PBA players and being cut by an NBA team.
“The next Filipino player you’ll see will be an American who was born, raised and played here,” he said. “He’ll have to play for a major college with a lot of media attention. He needs to get on that scouting list just to get an opportunity.”
Planells added that we, Filipinos, still have a long way to go.
“I think in the next ten years you’ll see more of an evolution. I think too you’re going to see more Fil-Ams coming up,” he said.
“The good thing about Jeremy is that it hopefully, helps more Asian and Filipino Americans get recognized. That’s the first step.”
As for Townsend, who has been waiting more than three decades for a Filipino to carry that NBA torch he’s been holding, he still believes it’ll happen in his lifetime.
“One thing that pleases about this whole Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow (in football) story is their belief in God and both men not afraid to profess their faith,” he said. “I’m quoting Mark 9:23, ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’ I believe. There’s going to be another Filipino basketball player in my lifetime.”
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Feb 18-21, 2012 Sec A pg. 17)
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