Jordan Clarkson made history as the first Filipino-American NBA champion after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 94-90, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday to secure their first title since 1973.
The Knicks overcame a 16-point deficit to complete a dramatic comeback and clinch the best-of-seven series in five games, capping a championship run marked by resilience and late-game execution.
Clarkson, 34, who traces his roots to Pampanga through his mother Annette Davis of Angeles City, contributed two points in six minutes off the bench but provided veteran leadership throughout the Finals campaign.
The title marks Clarkson’s second NBA Finals appearance after previously reaching the championship stage with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, when they were swept by the Golden State Warriors.
He also won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award with the Utah Jazz in 2021 and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2014.
The Knicks’ victory also denied another Filipino-American, Dylan Harper, a chance at his first NBA championship. The second overall pick in the recent NBA Draft, Harper—whose mother Maria Pizarro is from Bataan—finished Game 5 with 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists in a losing effort for San Antonio.
