Raymond Townsend, first Fil-Am in NBA, wants to mentor Kiefer, Ray Parks
MANILA, Philippines – Raymond Townsend, the first player of Filipino heritage to make it to the NBA, wants other Filipino players to join his exclusive club.
Townsend played collegiate basketball in UCLA before being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the 1978 NBA Draft. The first Filipino-American to make it to the NBA, he was honored by the Dubs during the Filipino Heritage Week last March 19.
"I had no idea that I was going to be put in that kind of stage, with that kind of arena," Townsend told TJ Manotoc of ABS-CBN News. "I'm very grateful, very, very grateful to the Warriors organization. I'm grateful to the NBA."
Townsend got the opportunity to catch up with some of his friends, including Martin Nievera, who sang the Star Spangled Banner ahead of the Warriors' game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He also got the chance to talk to Golden State coach Steve Kerr and the "Splash Brothers," Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
More than the chance to reunite with old friends and show how much Filipinos love basketball, however, the celebration of Filipino Heritage Week served to increase Townsend's desire to see a homegrown Filipino player in the NBA.
To this end, the 61-year-old former point guard expressed his intent to help up-and-coming Filipino basketball players, including two former UAAP MVPs that have already tried to break into the NBA.
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Townsend played collegiate basketball in UCLA before being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the 1978 NBA Draft. The first Filipino-American to make it to the NBA, he was honored by the Dubs during the Filipino Heritage Week last March 19.
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| Raymond Townsend, the first Fil-Am to play in the NBA. TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News |
Townsend got the opportunity to catch up with some of his friends, including Martin Nievera, who sang the Star Spangled Banner ahead of the Warriors' game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He also got the chance to talk to Golden State coach Steve Kerr and the "Splash Brothers," Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
More than the chance to reunite with old friends and show how much Filipinos love basketball, however, the celebration of Filipino Heritage Week served to increase Townsend's desire to see a homegrown Filipino player in the NBA.
To this end, the 61-year-old former point guard expressed his intent to help up-and-coming Filipino basketball players, including two former UAAP MVPs that have already tried to break into the NBA.
Source
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