In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month, let's highlight some of the NBA's current players who represent their respective nations, as well as some of the players who have made their mark in NBA history.

AAPI heritage month spans the entire month of May, providing us with an opportunity to reflect on some of the NBA's gifted Asian players. This includes the likes of Yao Ming, Jeremy Lin, and Yi Jianlian.

Who was the first Asian NBA player? Wataru Misaka, born in Utah in 1923 as a second-generation Asian American, made history as the first Asian NBA player. He was selected by the New York Knicks in the seventh round of the 1947 draft, breaking the color barrier in the league. Despite his modest height of only five-foot-seven, Misaka had a successful college career as a national championship winner and NIT winner with the Utah Utes in 1944 and 1947, respectively. Although his NBA career lasted only one year, he remains an important figure in basketball history.

Are there any Asian and Pacific Islander NBA players?

Yes, according to reports there are currently four players on active rosters in the NBA who come from Asian or Pacific Islander descent.

Current Asian NBA Players

Jordan Clarkson, a Filipino-American, Jalen Green, who also has Filipino roots, Rui Hachimura of Japanese heritage, and Yuta Watanabe, the first fully Japanese player in the NBA since 2004, are among the most notable Asian NBA players in the league.

Famous Asian NBA Players

When discussing famous Asian NBA players, it's hard not to mention the legendary Yao Ming. The former Chinese NBA player made a name for himself as one of the Houston Rockets' all-time greats after being the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. His success in the league made him a sensation and a celebrated sports talent in history amongst NBA fans in China.

Yao earned numerous accolades, including eight NBA All-Star appearances, and his number 11 jersey is now retired in the Rockets' arena. He remains an icon in China and is considered one of Asia's greatest athletes.

Jeremy Lin has joined the ranks of these incredible Asian athletes by becoming the first Asian American to win an NBA championship as a member of the Toronto Raptors in 2019. His tenacity and hard work on the court have earned him the respect and admiration of fans all over the world. Lin's achievement is a testament to the growing influence and impact of Asian athletes in the NBA and the sports world at large.

Celebrating the 10 Most Influential Asian American and Asian players in NBA history

Jordan Clarkson

Position: Shooting Guard
Years Active: 2014-Present
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz
Awards: NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2021, NBA All-Rookie First Team 2015 

Jordan Clarkson was born to an African American father and Filipino-American mother in Tampa, Florida. He is one of four active players in the NBA who belongs to Asian or Pacific Islander descent, and has carved a long-standing career for himself in the NBA.

Drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2014, Clarkson's career took a major leap when he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night. He played with the Lakers until 2018, before eventually joining the Utah Jazz, where he was an essential sixth man for the team. In 2021, he won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award, cementing his position as a valuable team player. Throughout his career, Clarkson has amassed over 10,000 career points and 2,000 rebounds.

Jalen Green

Position: Shooting Guard
Years Active: 2021-Present
Teams: Houston Rockets
Awards: NBA All-Rookie First Team 2022

Jalen Green, like Jordan Clarkson, also has roots in the Philippines. He was selected by the Houston Rockets with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, making him the second highest drafted Asian player ever. The Rockets have high expectations for him and see him as a major contributor to their future success.

Green has shown a lot of promise, as evidenced by his inclusion in the All-Rookie First Team in 2022 and his participation in the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend. Moreover, he and Clarkson made history in 2021 by becoming the first two players of Filipino descent to share the court in an NBA game. The two are the only current active Pacific Islander NBA players in the league.

Rui Hachimura

Position: Power Forward
Years Active: 2019-Present
Teams: Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers
Awards: NBA All-Rookie Second Team 2019 

Rui Hachimura, a talented basketball player, was born in Toyama, Japan to a Japanese mother and Beninese father. He spent most of his life in Japan and excelled in both baseball and basketball before accepting a scholarship to play for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the United States.

In 2019, Hachimura was recognized as a consensus First-Team All American, and shortly after he was selected by the Washington Wizards with the 9th overall pick in the NBA draft. He spent four successful seasons with the team before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he joined forces with basketball superstar Lebron James.

Hachimura is highly regarded in Japan and has represented his country in international competitions such as the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics. He is one of just a few Asian players in the NBA in 2023.

Yuta Watanabe

Position: Small Forward
Years Active: 2018-Present
Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets

Yuta Watanabe was born in Shikoku, Japan to Japanese parents, and he is a unique figure in the NBA as a fully Japanese player. He played basketball in high school in Japan until 2013, when he moved to Connecticut in the United States to attend school.

The Japanese forward played college ball for the George Washington Colonials, and while he went undrafted, Watanabe has forced his way through the ranks and onto an active roster in the NBA.

He is now a feature for the Brooklyn Nets, who has seen consistent playing time as one of the league's few Asian NBA players in 2023.

Wataru Misaka

Position: Point Guard
Years Active: 1947
Teams: New York Knicks 

NBA Asian Players have a rich history, and it all started with Wataru Misaka, the very first Asian American NBA player. Drafted by the New York Knicks in the 7th round of the 1947 draft, Misaka stood at just five-foot-seven but had a successful career with the Utah Utes as a national championship winner and NIT winner in 1944 and 1947 respectively.

As a young athlete, Misaka faced severe adversity, including racial slurs, being ignored by public services, and refused service in local restaurants. Despite these challenges, he found success as both a high school and college player before turning his attention to a career in engineering.

Misaka's appearance in the NBA in 1947 coincided with baseball legend Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. His story among Asian American NBA players is one that deserves recognition and praise for his contribution to diversity and inclusion in sports.

Raymond Townsend

Position: Point Guard
Years Active: 1978-1982
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers 

Raymond Townsend was the very first player of Filipino descent to feature in the NBA. He was drafted 22nd overall in the 1978 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, and the six-foot-three guard would go on to feature in the league for multiple years.

Townsend was born in San Jose, California, and is half-Filipino through his mother.

Rony Seikaly 

Position: Center
Years Active: 1988-1999
Teams: Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets
Awards: NBA’s Most Improved Player 1990 

Rony Seikaly was born in Beirut, Lebanon to Lebanese parents, but at the age of 10 he moved to the US where he attended boarding school.

In 1979, he relocated to Greece to continue his education and pursue a professional basketball career with Panathinaikos. Although he trained with the team, he was unable to play in games due to his lack of a Greek passport. Seikaly returned to the US in 1983 to attend Syracuse University where he excelled in basketball and eventually became the 9th overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft.

Within a few years, Seikaly became a prominent player for the Miami Heat and was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 1990 after leading the team in points, rebounds, and blocks.

Jeremy Lin 

Position: Point Guard
Years Active: 2010-2019
Teams: Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors
Awards: NBA Champion 2019 

Jeremy Lin is a Taiwanese-American basketball player, born in Torrance, California. After playing college basketball at Harvard, he went undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft. However, he earned himself several offers to sign with an NBA team following his impressive performance in the NBA summer league with the Dallas Mavericks. He chose to sign with his hometown team, the Golden State Warriors.

It was during the 2011-2012 season that Lin's fame skyrocketed as the point guard for the New York Knicks. He earned the nickname "Linsanity" due to his excellent performance, which made him famous not only in the US but also around the world. He featured in the All-Star Weekends Rising Stars Challenge and was offered a contract to play for the Houston Rockets the following year.

Lin spent several seasons in the NBA and was a part of the Toronto Raptors roster that won the NBA Championship in 2019. He is regarded as one of the best Asian American NBA players in league history.

Yi Jianlian 

Position: Power Forward
Years Active: 2007-2012
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks

Yi Jianlian was one of the most in-demand talents to emerge from China. He was dubbed as the next Yao Ming while playing for the Guangdong Southern Tigers.

Jianlian made the decision to defer his declaration for the 2006 NBA draft, recognizing that he wasn't yet confident enough in his abilities and wanted to gain more experience. He later announced his declaration in 2007 and was subsequently picked as the 6th overall selection by the Milwaukee Bucks.

In 2007, Jianlian played against Yao Ming in a game that was widely viewed by over 200 million viewers in China, marking a significant moment in his career. He continued to make strides in the NBA, even earning a spot in the 2008 Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend. Jianlian played professionally in the NBA until 2012.

Following his NBA stint, Jianlian returned to his home country to play for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, where he still plays as of 2023. He has since won six championships, secured three finals MVP awards, and has been selected as an All-Star an impressive 12 times.

Yao Ming

Position: Center
Years Active: 2002-2011
Teams: Houston Rockets

Yao Ming was born to professional basketball playing parents in Shanghai, China, and quickly followed in the footsteps of his parents himself.

As a teenager, Ming began to play for the Shanghai Sharks, and spent five seasons with the team before heading for the 2002 NBA draft, winning a championship in his final year in the CBA.

Ming was such a unique talent that he was selected first overall by the Houston Rockets, where he would spend his entire NBA career. During that time, he made eight NBA All-Star appearances and five All-NBA appearances in a career averaging 19 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game and 1.9 blocks per game.

Yao was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, the only Asian player to have been inducted in NBA history. He went on to become the President of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and is an iconic figure in Chinese sports today.

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