Fil-Am Clarkson joins NBA All-Rookie First team

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Filipino-American Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson was named part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Rookie First team on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) edging out Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart. Clarkson got 74 first-place and 52 second-place vote for a 200 point total, putting him just behind Orlando Magic’s Elfrid Payton (250), Philadelphia 76ers’ Nerlens Noel (252), Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Mirotic (258), and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins (260). Clarkson is the first player with Filipino blood to win an All-Rookie honor from the NBA. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in the 59 games he played this season. He was also named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in March when he averaged 15 points, five assists, and four rebounds.

Source: Czar Nicholas Elcano of Manila Times