Kai Sotto takes game to Japan's Hiroshima Dragonflies ahead of potential summer NBA move
The pride and hope of Philippines basketball relocates from Australia's NBL to sign with the B.League team - and a shot at the NBA following the Japanese season.
Basketball
Filipino National Basketball Association hopeful Kai Sotto has signed with the Hiroshima Dragonflies, the Japanese B.League team announced on Tuesday (7 February).
"I am looking forward to playing for the Hiroshima Dragonflies", Sotto said in a statement released by the Dragonflies.
"I want to do everything I can so that the Dragonflies, who are aiming to advance to the B.League Championship, have a great season.
"I am grateful to the president and GM (Okazaki Shuji) for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to meeting my teammates, staff and of course the fans".
Terms of the contract were not disclosed and it remains to be seen when his debut in Japan will be.
Hiroshima, however, said there is a chance the 20-year-old centre could muster a move to the NBA following the B.League season, which ends in late May.
"He is very young at 20 years of age but has been labeled as the 'Treasure of the Philippines'", Okazaki said of the 2.20-metre Sotto, who arrives from the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League.
"He is a former MVP of the Australian league where he was until this month and is an outright first-class player. He also has an opportunity to become another Asian NBA player following in the footsteps of Rui Hachimura and Watanabe Yuta.
"Expectations for him are high. He is someone who will grab the world's attention".
The Dragonflies are currently second in the Western Division halfway through the season of the three-division B.League.
Okazaki revealed the team have been tracking Sotto for a while and had previously made him an offer before his time at Adelaide.
This past season for the 36ers, Sotto averaged 6.8 points per game on 51 per-cent shooting to go along with 4.5 rebounds. Hiroshima is counting on their new big man to shore up their below-average front-court presence.
No player has previously made the direct jump from the B.League to the NBA.
"If he joins the NBA after playing in the B.League, it will be a historic feat for the league as well", Okazaki said.
"The B.League is aiming to be the world's second best league behind the NBA and it would mean a great deal. As a club we are trying to win the championship but we will also provide the support to make his career successful".