Camille Naredo

Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks reacts after scoring a three point basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. Sarah Stier, Getty Images/AFP 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks reacts after scoring a three point basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Sarah Stier / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

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Cleveland Cavaliers v New York Knicks - Game One

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781496375504AFP__20260520__2277191501__v1__MidRes__ClevelandCavaliersVNewYorkKnicksGameOne.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks reacts after scoring a three point basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. <em>Sarah Stier, Getty Images/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>Jordan Clarkson has made history.</p><p>As the New York Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought, Clarkson became the first player of Filipino-descent  to win an NBA championship.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/14/knicks-beat-spurs-to-claim-first-nba-title-in-53-years-1137">READ: Brunson leads Knicks to first NBA title in 53 years</a></div><p>Speaking to ESPN courtside moments after the final buzzer, the Fil-Am guard was overcome with emotion.</p><p>“Amazing bro, speechless! This is crazy, bro. Just blessed. Thankful, man. Sacrifice baby, one day at a time,” he said.</p><p>The celebration extended to his family. His father, Mike Clarkson, took to Instagram to reflect on the journey.</p><p>“PSA: For all who’ve supported or even criticized over the years, there’s nothing to take away or tarnish. Jordan was blessed to be mentored and play with one of the greatest ever (Kobe Bryant) and has accomplished nearly all he could. To God be the glory! He’s reached the mountain top walking, running or crawling,” the elder Clarkson wrote.</p><p>“Enjoy and here’s to hoping everyone can live their best life, too. Amen,” he added.</p><p>“God’s plan will always come to fruition when you believe and commit and dedicate yourself to finding your purpose. Praise be to God,” he continued.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2066161288590528969&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-06-15T03%3A53%3A57.948478%3Aeb7c14bb-162c-449b-a1c9-6eccd01083b7%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=cbf48acb5829fe4fb32b647fd13042f57bb47ae2&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:1027px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2066161288590528969"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>The 34-year-old guard came off the bench throughout New York’s Finals run tallying 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.7 minutes across five games in a supporting but steady role.</p><p>His finest moment of the series came in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, putting up 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, with three rebounds, a steal, and a block in just 13 minutes on the floor.</p><p>The Knicks clinched the series with a 94-90 win in Game 5.</p>

<p>"Amazing bro, speechless! This is crazy, bro. Just blessed."</p>

"Amazing bro, speechless! This is crazy, bro. Just blessed."

Jordan Clarkson 'blessed' to make history as first NBA champ of Filipino descent

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Jordan Clarkson 'blessed' to make history as first NBA champ of Filipino descent

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 15, 2026 12:08 PM PHT

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