5 Asian/Asian American Ballers to Watch this NBA Season

‘Tis the season—the days have grown shorter, the shadows have grown longer, and the time for speculating about where Damian Lillard will play has come and gone (he’s with the Milwaukee Bucks now, and they will be very good). The NBA regular season is upon us, and with it a bounty of storylines that will keep fans of the league entertained for the next eight months or so. Here are five Asian American and Asian players to watch this NBA season:

Jalen Green

After being drafted second overall in the 2021 draft, fans are ready to see Green, who is of Filipino descent, take a leap. The rangy, explosive guard has proven that he can score, averaging more than 22 points per game in his second year. This year, with several veteran signings in the offseason, the Houston Rockets will give him the chance to show that he can win as well (point guard Fred VanVleet, in particular, should make Green’s life easier).

If Green can demonstrate more balanced playmaking and passable defense, he might be able to lead the Rockets to some success this year, and solidify his place as their franchise player going forward. In a profile with ESPN, Green said, “I can contribute to winning. I’m an all around player.” This would be an ideal season to show it.

Jaylin Williams

The Oklahoma City Thunder big man, and first NBA player of Vietnamese descent, sits in a precarious place entering his second year in the league. Williams (fun fact—there is another player on the Thunder named Jalen Williams!) was thrust into a prominent role as a rookie due to injuries that left the team without any size in the front court, and performed well given the circumstances, even leading the league in charges taken.

But with healthy players returning, particularly last year’s No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren, Williams may not have as much of an opportunity to play. In whatever minutes he receives, he’ll have to prove that he has something to offer—his best path may be to demonstrate he has the strength to complement the willowy Holmgren. Otherwise, Williams may find himself on the outside looking in on a roster that is loaded with young talent.

Jordan Clarkson

Coming off a somewhat disappointing run at the FIBA World Cup with the Philippines national team, Clarkson has the chance to build on a pleasantly surprising past season with the Utah Jazz. Long cast as a sixth man scoring guard, Clarkson demonstrated more expansive playmaking chops on a scrappy rebuilding Jazz team.

This year, the Jazz will continue with the rebuild, and so Clarkson will likely continue to get ample opportunity. However, rebuilds can turn quickly—Clarkson may soon find himself traded, or relegated to a smaller role to make way for younger players. Whatever happens, one thing is for sure—his outfits will be incredible.

Rui Hachimura

Of the players listed here, Hachimura may get the most airtime this season simply by virtue of being on the Los Angeles Lakers. Born and raised in Japan, Hachimura was traded to LA last season after a fairly disappointing couple seasons with the Washington Wizards, and the spotlight of his new team seemed to kick him into gear. Hachimura looked refocused and rejuvenated on the Lakers’ run to the conference finals, offering some timely scoring outbursts and a useful defense against league MVP Nikola Jokic.

After a summer of hanging out with LeBron James, Hachimura will hopefully ride that momentum into the coming season and seize a starting role alongside the Lakers’ two main stars, James and Anthony Davis.

Yuta Watanabe

Watanabe is in a somewhat similar position to Hachimura—he will be successful if he can find a role alongside superstar teammates. The Phoenix Suns’ triumvirate of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal will take care of the scoring and playmaking, leaving the Japanese Watanabe as possibly the perfect player to take care of everything else.

A career 39-percent 3-point shooter, Watanabe can help space the floor for his star teammates to score. And at 6'8", he offers some decent size on the wing on a team in need of defense and rebounding. But Watanabe’s greatest skill may be his relentless hustle. Durant, previously his teammate on the Brooklyn Nets, said, “I think I might have to tell him at this point, relax a bit.”