MANILA – Kai Sotto has no regrets skipping college ball in the United States (US) to join the National Basketball Association (NBA) G League select team.
In a zoom press conference on May 14, the 7-foot-2 said that joining G League’s professional pathway program was the logical choice in his mission to become the first-ever homegrown Filipino player in the NBA.
“I think it’s better exposure,” said Sotto. “‘Yung dream and goal ko is maging NBA player. Mas maganda kung nandun na tayo sa mas malapit (NBA G League).”
He added: “I think mas competitive and mas magiging maganda ‘yung competition kapag kalaban mo ‘yung mga plano rin mag-NBA. I’ll be coached by NBA-caliber coaches. Mas magandang path, for me talaga, ‘yung G League. I just can’t wait to go there to train and to compete.”
“It’s really a big thing for me and for my family to be the first (Filipino) to join the NBA G League. I think I’ll always use this as a motivation and inspiration to work really hard to make them proud,” he further said.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets center is set to earn at least US $150,000 in the league.
What excites Sotto is the opportunity to team up with Filipino-American Jalen Green, along with Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix.
“I haven’t really seen the two other players, Todd and Nix, but I’m really excited to play with Jalen Green because I got to play against him,” Sotto said. “Both games, I lost, so, I just can’t wait to play with a great player like him, share the basketball court with him and learn from him.”
“‘Yung magdadala sa amin is ‘yung competitiveness namin. ‘Yun ang maghe-help sa amin na hilahin ‘yung teammates namin pataas. Kung ikaw ay magko-competewith great players everyday, you’ll also improve,” he added.
The 18-year-old also expanded his game. He has included outside shooting in his arsenal with the help of retired NBA player Chuck Person.
“Actually, he gave me a lot of confidence to trust my shooting. ‘Yung mga first months na nagti-training kami, pinapatira niya ako sa malayo eh,” Sotto said. “Sabi ko sa kanya, hindi naman ako si Steph Curry para mag-shootng ganyan. ‘Yun pala, tinitignan niya lang ‘yung range ko at ‘yung kapasidad ng mga shots ko.”
“Tinulungan niya ako paano maging ready at confident sa shot ko. After ng training namin, simula nung naglaro ako sa TSF [The Skill Factory], dinala ko lang sa laro ko. Sa tingin ko naman, maganda ang naging effect,” he added.
The new G League squad Sotto committed to will be based in Southern California. It won’t have any NBA affiliates and will only play at least 15 “exhibition” games./PN
