Utah Jazz to participate in Filipino heritage night

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson may not be universally recognized by reporters in Salt Lake City, but he’s a household name in the Philippines.

Clarkson is of Filipino descent, and on October 28 (October 29 on Manila time) he and his Jazz teammates travel to Houston to play the Rockets in what’s being billed as a Filipino heritage night. The theme makes logical sense, as the Rockets selected fellow Filipino American Jalen Green with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Evidently, both men are proud of their Filipino heritage.

“I feel like if I was a kid over there watching somebody else that made it, it would give me hope” said the Utah Jazz Sixth Man of the Year winner.

Meanwhile, the considerably younger Green echoes similar sentiments.

“I love the Philippines. They show me love and support and I’m just happy to represent them. I have family out there”.

For strictly basketball-related purposes, this may not be a game for Utah Jazz fans to circle on their calendars. These two franchises are in dramatically different places: as the Utah Jazz set their sights on the Larry O’Brien trophy, the Houston Rockets may have an eye on the 2022 NBA Draft. They were one of the worst teams in the NBA last season, as superstar James Harden (very publicly) forced his way out of town.

Nonetheless, NBA basketball is always fun, and there will be plenty to enjoy in this matchup. Most notably (outside, of course, of watching the Jazz), Green himself is an electrifying talent. He’s likely to reel off a highlight play or two, even if the Rockets’ offense ends up being a little sore on the eyes.

Besides, maybe Utah Jazz fans should tune into Filipino heritage night anyway. After all, the Jazz have a good chance to win this one by 20 or more.