Another Filipino-American standout is on his way to stardom after being selected with the second overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie Draft on Thursday (Manila time) at the Barclays Center.
Dylan Harper, son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and Maria Pizzaro-Harper, officially joined the growing list of half-Filipinos in the NBA when he suits up for the Spurs in the coming season of the NBA.
Filipino blood flows through Harper’s veins.
His grandmother, Lilia, is a pure Filipino who was born and raised in Bataan before moving to the United States together with his daughter, Maria.
In an interview with ABS-CBN at the sidelines of the draft proceedings in New York, Lilia said she is thrilled to witness her “apo” realize his dream of becoming an NBA player.
“I am so happy that he’s able to achieve his childhood dream. He’s always determined and a perfectionist even when he was still a little boy,” said Lila, who also has a grandchild in the NBA in Ron Jr. of the Detroit Pistons.
Maria, also a basketball player who played college ball for University of New Orleans before venturing into coaching, said seeing her 19-year-old son enter the NBA is truly a surreal experience.
“This is surreal. The NBA is a very exclusive club. He worked hard to get here,” said Maria, adding that despite growing up in the United States, she still imbibes the Filipino culture, values and tradition to her children.
“The Filipino culture, our values, and work ethic are deeply engraved in our children. They watched my parents work tirelessly as immigrants, and they saw me balance a full-time job while coaching them.”
Aside from the Harper brothers, other Fil-Ams in the NBA are Jared McCain of the Philadelphia 76ers, Jalen Green of the Phoenix Suns and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz.
Prior to them, Raymond Townsend became the first player with Filipino blood to see action in the NBA when he suited up for the Golden State Warriors from 1978 to 1985.
Unfortunately for Harper, he is no longer eligible to represent the country in major international events as he already suited up for the United States in the 2023 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Hungary.
Harper, however, stressed that he owes everything to his Filipino mother.
“She means the world to me. She even coached me from first grade all the way to senior high school,” said Harper, who is preparing to join former top rookies Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle as well as newly-acquired All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox.
“For her to see this moment, and just to be there for my journey — I love my mom. Everything I do is definitely for her.”