Holding himself to a high standard, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. has always taken it upon himself to perform like an import at every given opportunity. And that will not change, now that he’s signed up with Nagoya in the Japan B.League.
The 28-year-old inked a one-year deal with the Diamond Dolphins recently, adding more excitement to a season ahead anticipated highly for it features a number of Filipinos raring to strut their stuff in front of a wider audience,
“Every time I touch the floor, I feel like I always have a responsibility and a chip on my shoulder – and a bullseye on my back,” he told Power and Play.
“Every time I step on the court, I have to play like an import, whether it may be in the ABL, whether it may be in the G-League, whether it may be in the PBA. Quite frankly now, it’s just more of like a title, like, ‘Yeah! You are an Asian import!’
“But then, I felt like I’ve been doing the responsibilities needed as an import,” the well-travelled hooper continued.
Parks brings with him a wealth of experience in his journey in the Land of the Rising Sun. Way before he rose as a PBA star, he first made history in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) as its only three-time Most Valuable Player.
And prior to making a mark in the ABL, the former two-time UAAP MVP spent a season with the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League, months after playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League.
The former Gilas Pilipinas stalwart said that those experiences have definitely helped him become the person that he is today.
“I feel like everything that I do, what I’ve been through… All the obstacles and the challenges I faced to get to this point really built me up into who I am today,” he told the program hosted by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
“And it really helped hone and shape me on and off the floor to be prepared to be here,” Parks added.
Undeniably, Parks has gone through a lot. But none brings him joy than making his family proud, especially his late, great father, Bobby Sr.
“You know, at the end of the day, it feels good right now to say that, ‘Dad, you and I both are imports,'” he said with a hearty chuckle.
His dad was no question one of the greatest imports to ever play in the PBA. From 1987-99, he won a record seven Best Import awards, and multiple championships with San Miguel Beer and Shell.
To this day, no other player has touched his number of Best Import titles. Furthermore, the plum was named after him in 2013.
Bobby Ray Jr. was then asked what could be his father’s advice to him now that he embarks on a new journey. His response?
“He would just tell me, ‘Continue to be a professional’ in what I do, and every tip and trick that he would tell me every now and then even when I was in the Philippines,” the young pro offered.
“You know, watching game film and telling me to be more aggressive, making sure that I’m making the right decisions. And try and get a bucket. Because if you don’t they’ll ship you out of there real quick,” he added with a laugh.
“Everybody wants to be in your spot and it’s a blessing to have your spot, so continue to prove yourself each and every time you step on the floor. And the best way he put it is, put on a show.”
