AFTER seeing for himself the level of play in games among players knocking on the NBA door, Bobby Ray Parks said Kobe Paras, or any Filipino for that matter, can definitely make it to the big league given the right opportunities.
In a conference call with Filipino reporters after playing two games with the Dallas Mavericks in the Summer League, the two-time UAAP MVP sounded all the move convinced a player from the Philippines can play in the NBA someday.
And that includes teenager Paras, who is seen as another potential to break into the NBA more so since he is set to play NCAA Division 1 ball with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins next season.
“Actually kausap ko si Kobe nung isang araw. Yeah, kaya naman ni Kobe,” said Parks of Paras. Incidentally, their dads - Benjie Paras and the late Bobby Parks, Sr. - used to be teammates at Shell in the PBA.
Parks has received an opportunity to chase his NBA dream by way of a Summer League stint with the Dallas Mavericks after being bypassed in the NBA rookie picked.
At the end of the day, Parks said it is all about getting the opportunity, which any Paras and any Filipino player has.
“Actually lahat tayo, may opportunity. It’s just being in the right place talaga,” said Parks. “Malay mo. May bata diyan sa Pilipinas, nagsho-shooting gamit tsinelas niya (at napansin ng NBA teams).
"Depende talaga sa plano ni God,” Parks added.
Parks said he cherishes his own opportunity of playing in the NBA Summer League, adding he cherishes every second he spends on court wearing the Mavericks jersey.
“Blessing naman ‘yun na ma-suot ‘yung jersey na kada segundo sa court, malaking accoplisment na ‘yun,” he said.
Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph
