Fil-Am Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson has been cleared to play for the Philippines in the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship, but his father says he won’t be participating.
“As you know in professional sports, timing is of the essence especially when managing a player’s career,” his father, Mike Clarkson, said in an email to US-based Philstar contributor Homer Sayson.
“Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t be worse as he [Jordan] prepares for rigors of the upcoming 2015-2016 NBA season and heightened performance expectations.”
The FIBA championship is scheduled to take place from Sept. 23 through Oct. 3 in China, but the Lakers training camp – which is mandatory for all the team’s players – begins Sept. 28. Given the overlapping schedules, Manila Bulletin reported that Clarkson would be able to play in three games for Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) – against Palestine on Sept. 23, Hong Kong on Sept. 24 and Kuwait on Sept. 25.
Should the Philippines advance, the team would play the first game of the second phase on Sept. 27, though Clarkson’s participation in the next round would be unlikely due to his commitment to the Lakers.
In an email to Manila Bulletin, John Black, vice-president for public relations of the Lakers, said the 23-year-old Fil-Am is free to play for Gilas in China.
“Per the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Player’s Association, as long as national team play does not interfere with team requirements and there are no injury issues, it is up to the players whether or not to play. Our players must be in Los Angeles on September 28, so as long as he would be back by then, we would have no objection to Jordan playing in the event up until that date,” Black wrote.
Clarkson, who has expressed interest in representing the Philippines, was recently confirmed as eligible to play for the country’s national team. Rappler reported that because the Lakers guard obtained a Philippine passport before he turned 16, he satisfies a requirement needed to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas.
“It definitely would mean a lot,” Clarkson said, according to a Lakers Nation report published in March. “It’s just one of those things you want to do, like how I want to make my city proud and make that country proud as well.”
Although the Fil-Am basketball player will not be participating in the upcoming international championship, he is looking forward to a long-term commitment with Gilas. Inquirer reported that Clarkson wants to play for Gilas for three Olympic Games – 2016, 2020 and 2024 – starting next year in Rio de Janeiro.
“I’m all in,” he said.
Philstar further reported that SBP officials are seeking to meet with Clarkson’s father and Lakers management to alleviate concerns they may have.
“Our talk with the father is to reassure him that, from the time that he [Jordan] has not signed the contract [with the Lakers] to the time that he does, and if he gets injured while with Gilas, we will assure them during that period he will be properly taken care of,” SBP Vice Chairman Ricky Vargas told Philstar. “We will be taking a risk anyway, whether he has a contract or not.”
Philstar also wrote that Clarkson is working on a contract-extension deal with the Lakers after an impressive rookie year in the NBA.
NBA preseason begins for the Lakers on Oct. 4 when they face the Utah Jazz in Hawaii. The official season begins Oct. 28.
