Basketball is very much a global sport now, and it is an especially popular one in the Philippines. Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen recently shared a video on Instagram of Filipino children playing the game barefoot outside in a field.
“Ball is life.”
It is great to see that kind of passion to play the game and who knows, maybe one of the next global basketball superstars might just be practicing in a field in the Philippines right now. Despite the massive interest in basketball in the country, no player born and raised in the Philippines has actually ever played in the NBA.
There have been some with ties to the country, with Raymond Townsend becoming the first Filipino-American to play in the league when he was drafted in 1978 by the Golden State Warriors. Notable active players of Filipino descent, meanwhile, are Jordan Clarkson and Jalen Green.
Kai Sotto had nearly become the first man born and raised in the Philippines to play in the NBA. Sotto went undrafted in 2022 but got an invite to the 2023 Summer League from the Orlando Magic. He even got some game time, but the Magic ultimately decided against signing him.
NBA Fans Reacted To The Video
Pippen’s post quickly went viral on Instagram and NBA fans reacted to it.
One loved this setting in which the kids were playing, “No shoes.. the animal sounds… not a care in the world… just the love for the game.”
A U.S. native stated this is how he played as well, “If you’re from down south from the country, this is how we played basketball.”
A fan said the kids are tough, “With no shoes? They tough.”
One applauded their dedication, “That’s some dedication!”
A Filipino wants Pippen to visit their country, “You have a lot of fans here, someday visit our country.”
Pippen has actually visited the Philippines in the past. He and Dennis Rodman took part in the PLDT All-Star Basketball Challenge 2012, where NBA Legends took on the PBA Legends.
Scottie Pippen Posted A Message On Struggles Building Character
Pippen also shared a valuable life lesson on Instagram recently about how going through struggles is how one builds character.
“Everyone wants to skip the struggle not knowing that’s where character is built.”
Pippen is a millionaire now thanks to an incredibly successful NBA career that saw him win six championships, but he grew up poor. He was also too short for a basketball player when he got to Hamburg High School and only made the team in his sophomore year.
Pippen was still just 6’1″ when he graduated, though, and didn’t receive any scholarships. He would fail to land with a college in the NCAA and instead had to settle with going to the University of Central Arkansas in the NAIA.
Pippen didn’t let any of the setbacks get to him though and soldiered on. He eventually had a growth spurt in college and would be spotted by Jerry Krause, the former Chicago Bulls GM, and the rest is history.
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