Unknown to many there was a Filipino-American player in the Na



tional Basketball Association (NBA).

Raymond Townsend was a 6-3 point guard who played for three seasons for the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers. Ray's mother was a Pinay from Balayan, Batangas and his father an American. 

Before playing on the NBA, Ray was part of legendary coach John Wooden’s last championship at UCLA in 1974. In four years at UCLA, Townsend was the starting point guard in two of those years, part of a team that won the Pac-8 division all four years, and named captain during his senior campaign.

The 58-year old is now based in San Jose, CA where he is a youth development coordinator in sports for a high school in the Bay Area.

When he was honored by the Warriors during Filipino Heritage Month, Ray said he was surprised he's still the only Pinoy so far to have played in the Association and would love to see another Filipino or Fil-Am player in the NBA. 

(some information courtesy of the Asian Journal)