Filipino prodigy Kai Sotto’s next crucial steps
After failing to get picked in the 2022 NBA Draft what comes next for the 2.18m basketball star is the question on everyone’s lips.
Basketball
On June 23, 2022, rising basketball star Kai Sotto fell short of his dream.
The 20-year-old from the Philippines had long held the ambition of becoming the first born-and-raised Filipino in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
And after working out and spending time with the Orlando Magic, the New York Knicks, the Sacramento Kings and the Indiana Pacers hopes were high Sotto might make it.
But when 30 teams passed on his name at the annual draft night at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York those hopes were shattered.
While other international prospects such as Dyson Daniels (AUS) and Ousmane Dieng (FRA) had their names read out, Sotto was left out in the cold.
Reflecting on the news the following day Sotto expressed regret about what happened but also a sense of optimism for the future:
“Not the outcome that we wanted,” the seven-foot-three Filipino penned in a social media post, “but it’s what I needed, My vision became clearer and I believe in God’s plans for me.
“I’m far from over and I'm not stopping till I get to fulfil my dream.”
Kai Sotto: new beginnings start now
When one door closes others open – but what does that mean for Sotto?
Straight after draft night talk swirled that the Filipino might enter the NBA Summer League, an invitational off-season where training camp deals and two-way contracts are known to be drawn up for those undrafted.
When the son of former Philippine Basketball Assocation (PBA) player Ervin Sotto contradicted his agent Joel Bell on making an appearance in the League, expectations grew that he would play and the NBA might still be an option this year.
But with his name never announced and the competition now under way as of yesterday (8 July) it is clear that there will be no NBA Summer League for Sotto this year.
Kai Sotto: No-go for 2022 FIBA Asia Cup
Also on the immediate horizon for Sotto is the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, which runs from Tuesday 12 July to Sunday 24 July.
With his height and his promise, unsurprisingly Sotto’s name appeared on the squad sheet.
However, it looks as if an appearance by the young gun at the 30th continental showpiece in Jakarata, Indonesia might also be unlikely.
Speaking to the media after Philippines defeated India at the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers - where Sotto also didn’t feature - the men’s team program director Chot Reyes all-but ruled out the center:
“He has decided to do some other thing and forego the FIBA Asia Cup,” said Reyes. “We’re still hoping, but to be very honest, it is unlikely.”
Kai Sotto: Still committed Adelaide 36ers
Though Sotto’s NBA hopes may have taken a dent after missing this year's draft that does not mean to say he is out of the race altogether.
Sotto is just one year into his two-year-long contract with the National Basketball League (NBL) side Adelaide 36ers and it currently seems as if he will reprise his role there for the 2022/23 season.
Last time out the big man from the Philippines averaged 7.5 points, 0.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game for the Australia-based franchise.
The future is now.