JUSTIN Brownlee Jr. is grateful to his father for helping him become the player that he is.
The 14-year-old Brownlee Jr. is starting to carve out his own basketball career, as seen through clips posted online. The younger Brownlee is also set to play for Fil-Am Nation Select Los Angeles in the championship of the Manila Live 14-under tournament on Sunday morning at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“He helped me a lot on my shooting and dribbling and just seeing the court,” said the soft-spoken Brownlee Jr. in an interview with reporters along with his father after Friday's game between Barangay Ginebra and NLEX.
Brownlee Jr. said he has also adapted the work ethic of his father even when he is not in the United States and plying his craft in the PBA.
“I train everyday, just work hard, and be consistent,” said Brownlee Jr.
Brownlee Jr. admires his father so much that he had an interesting answer when he was asked for his reaction about Brownlee Sr. being labeled as the ‘Michael Jordan of the Philippines.’
“I feel like he is better than Michael Jordan,” said Brownlee Jr., drawing laughter from his father.
Brownlee Jr. will be playing in the championship against Blue Steel where he plans to wear his father's Kobe shoes that he sported on Friday night's game where he scored 46 points against NLEX.
“That will be good,” said Brownlee Jr. about winning a championship at Manila Live. “I will be wearing these (Kobe shoes) to give me good luck,” said Brownlee Jr.
For his part, Brownlee Sr. feels like his son is a lot better than him.
READ: This is how good - and tall - Justin Brownlee Jr. has become
“I think he is more athetic and his feet is going to be bigger than mine for sure,” said Brownlee Sr.
The Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player and Barangay Ginebra resident import said it would be special for his son to also play with the Gin Kings but said that he also has dreams of his own.
“His dreams first,” said Brownlee Sr. “He wants to make the NBA just like most kids. They want to make that journey. But if it doesn't work out, I'm sure he is going to have opportunities here and probably elsewhere as well. But that will be dope to see him in a Ginebra jersey.”
Brownlee Sr. also hopes that there won't be a lot of comparisons between him and his son down the road.
“He's got his own game and he is trying to create his own personality. Hopefully, the comparisons won't be too much because I know he will have his own game,” said Brownlee Sr.
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