JUNE Mar Fajardo is undoubtedly the most dominant Filipino basketball player today.
The 28-year-old Fajardo has already achieved so much in the PBA, with multiple championships and Most Valuable Player awards.
Though we don’t really know how Fajardo will do against some of the best basketball players in the world, there was a time that decorated PBA coach Tim Cone was contemplating on letting the 6’10” behemoth from Pinamungajan, Cebu try out in the NBA D-League, now renamed as the G-League, through Dallas Mavericks scout Jim Kelly.
“Jim was opening up a spot for June Mar and I thought June Mar might have got some, but there’s just too many things going on for June Mar here, so I’ve never spoken to him about it,” said Cone, who’s head coach of Barangay Ginebra, in a report posted at Spin.ph.
“I felt he could do very well in the NBA D-League and get himself a chance to get up to the NBA.” Fajardo is averaging 19.64 points per game, 11.36 rebounds per game and 0.91 blocks per game in the current PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“Syempre masaya ako na ganun yung tingin ni coach sa akin, so malaking respeto ko kay coach Tim kasi una ko pa lang sila nakalaban (sa finals nung)... sobrang taas ng respeto ko sa kanya,” said Fajardo.
Ginebra Gin Kings’ Japeth Aguilar was the first homegrown Filipino player to be drafted in the NBA D-League after being drafted by the Santa Cruz Warriors with the 109th pick in 2012. Bobby Ray Parks, who plays with the Mandaluyong Tigers in the MPBL, was the second Filipino player drafted in the NBA D-League back in 2015 by the Texas Legends in the second round. He played for Legends for a season.
Fajardo isn’t closing his doors on the possibility of playing overseas and a stint in the NBA G-League.
“Nag-iisip din,” said Fajardo. “Why not, ‘di ba?” (EKA)