Brownlee officially became a Filipino citizen by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 11937 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in January 2023.

It was a fairly quick process by Congress, with the House of Representatives and the Senate approving House Bill 6224 without any amendments on December 12, 2022.

“As a citizen, I will try my best to make the Filipino people proud,” said Brownlee. “I want to keep making you guys proud and to do whatever I can to help the national team.”

During the proceedings, Brownlee personally appeared before both chambers of Congress in a barong Tagalog, and posed with the Philippine flag after his bill was approved on third and final reading by the Senate.

It was the second time that the proposed law was filed, with the first being done so in August 2018, but lapsed during the 18th Congress.

“Brownlee has now deemed the Philippines as his second home and has demonstrated a strong desire to contribute to the country as a future player of our Gilas Pilipinas squad,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chairman and Senator Sonny Angara said then.