Brownlee gets offers to play abroad — Cone

MANILA, Philippines: Tim Cone said after Justin Brownlee’s successful comeback stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, the Filipino naturalized player has the option of playing overseas.

“There’s offers to go play overseas since it’s (PBA) All-Filipino (conference). We’re perfectly fine with that. We hope that he doesn’t go to the D-League or the NBA like this guy (Kai Sotto),” Cone said on Sunday night, following Gilas Pilipinas’ 106-53 drubbing of Taiwan to score a two-game sweep of the opening window of the regional qualifiers.

The American mentor said should the 35-year-old Brownlee opt to play in Europe, Japan or the Middle East, he can come back and join Gilas any time.

“If he goes and plays somewhere, he goes and plays in Europe or in Japan or Korea or the Middle East which he played in before, he’ll always be available for the window because he’s a naturalized player,” shared the 66-year-old Gilas mentor.

“If he goes and plays, and he’s got a contract in June, July, and August, he’ll still like Kai and be able to come back and join us for the window.”

Cone said they are giving Brownlee the blanket support as the beloved Barangay Ginebra resident import tries to stay in game shape.

“We’re all for him going out and staying in shape. He’ll definitely be back for us and Ginebra in the next conference after the All-Filipino. He’s already locked in for that so we’ll see him here. In the mean time, he’s looking at offers and he’ll probably end up playing somewhere for a while,” he explained.

Brownlee put on a show in front of the Filipino crowd at the Philsports Arena on Sunday, his first game in Philippine soil since he led Gilas to the Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal in Hangzhou, China last year.

Brownlee averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals in the first window.