In an exciting development, Kai Sotto has received an invitation to participate in the NBA Summer League after his recent attendance at several NBA training camps.
NBA Philippines confirmed on Friday evening that Sotto will be playing for the Orlando Magic during the league's preseason, scheduled from July 7 to 17 in Las Vegas.
This opportunity presents a significant platform for the Filipino center to showcase his skills, as scouts closely observe the young talents in hopes of securing an NBA contract.
Sotto has been diligently pursuing his NBA dreams, attending practices with the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and the Utah Jazz.
Phil Handy, assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is currently part of an Asian Tour, commented that Sotto's NBA aspirations rely on the available opportunities.
"It could be this summer, it could be next year. It really just depends on the opportunity," Handy stated during a press conference.
With the Orlando Magic Summer League roster set to include promising young talents like Anthony Black (No. 6 pick) and Jett Howard (No. 11 pick), Sotto aims to make the most of this chance to shine alongside them.
Sotto, aspiring to be the first homegrown Filipino to reach the NBA, previously attempted to enter the league through the 2022 NBA Draft but went undrafted.
After going unpicked, he returned to play for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League before signing with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B.League.
While Sotto recently signed an extension with the Dragonflies, he is permitted to try out for any NBA teams during the Japan B.League offseason.
"The NBA is my biggest dream, so I will continue to work hard and challenge myself in the summer league in the United States this summer," Sotto expressed last month.
Furthermore, Sotto's inclusion in Gilas Pilipinas' 21-man pool for the Fiba World Cup offers the exciting possibility of him teaming up with Jordan Clarkson once again.
The question is, how realitistic is his chance of being given a roster spot in Orlando?
I think, it is very low. Orlando has a lot of centers in their line-up. They have Wendell Carter, Bol Bol and Goga Bitadze in the line-up. Even their best player Paolo Banchero can play it for a a portion of the game.
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