NBA allows Jordan Clarkson to play at Asian Games

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The NBA announced on Wednesday that it has made a “one-time exception” for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jordan Clarkson, Houston Rockets center Zhou Qi and Dallas Mavericks forward Ding Yanyuhang to play for their countries in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

The league said the decision was made after negotiations between the NBA and the basketball associations of China and the Philippines. Later Filipino Clarkson himself confirmed the news by posting on Facebook: “PUSO! My heart is full of gratitude for everyone who helped make this happen. See you all very soon!”

Zhou Qi from NBA's Houston Rockets will play for China at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. /VCG Photo

According to Tencent Sports, Clarkson will arrive in Jakarta on Thursday and join the delegation from the Philippines as the flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the event.

The story took a big U-turn considering that only a few days ago, the NBA made it clear that Clarkson would not be allowed to play for the Philippines in the Asian Games because the event is not included in the agreement between the league and FIBA that NBA players can attend.

Ding Yanyuhang (red) from NBA's Dallas Mavericks will play for China at the Asian Games in Jakarta. /VCG Photo

Having been turned down, the Philippines started to question why Chinese player Zhou Qi, who also plays for an NBA team can compete in the Asian Games on behalf of his country. In fact, based on the reason given by the league, neither Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang should be playing in the Asian Games.

Though this “one-time-exception” has given the two countries what they wanted, the NBA did not offer an explanation to the anomaly.

The Philippines are in Group D with China and Kazakhstan, and will play against China on August 21.

(Top picture: Jordan Clarkson from the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. /VCG Photo)