Parks makes history as Texas Legends draftee

MANILA, Philippines – Bobby Ray Parks Jr. made it to the final 10-man roster of the Texas Legends, becoming the first Filipino to play in the NBA D-League.

Parks is set to play for the Legends who kick off their campaign in the NBA farm league against the Austin Toros Friday at the Cedar Park Center in Texas.

Parks, left undrafted in the NBA rookie draft this year despite seeing action in the NBA pre-season for the Dallas Mavericks, made it to the 17-man training camp team of the Legends a few days after he was tabbed 25th overall by Texas, the Mavs’ D-League affiliate.

“He’s (Parks) a really good shooter. He’s very versatile. He can give you some minutes at the point, he can give you some minutes at shooting guard,” said Byron Bogar, the Legends’ director of player programs, in the recent episode of Beyond the Bounce posted at the team’s official website.

“He’s been playing great defense. In all, he’s a great character guy,” Bogar added.

Texas coach Nick Van Exel, a former NBA star, said he is impressed with the whole team, including Parks.

“The beauty of it is we got a lot of good shooters that are battling for the same position. We got guys who are good... being a good teammate, being a professional. It’s always a blessing and makes your job a lot easier,” he said. 

Parks, son of former many-time PBA Best Import Bobby Sr. and a two-time MVP for National U in the UAAP, actually became the second Filipino to be drafted in the NBA D-League after Japeth Aguilar, who was picked in the seventh round by the Santa Cruz Warriors three years ago.

Aguilar, however, didn’t make Santa Cruz’s main roster in the NBA D-League regular season and is now playing with the PBA’s Brgy. Ginebra Kings.

Some who saw action in the D-League and are now regulars in the NBA are Miami Heat’s Hassan Whiteside, Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets’ Jeremy Lin.