As the 2022 NBA Draft approaches next week, it’s important to follow the progress of draft hopeful Kai Sotto’s NBA goals, from declaring them to the universe to working out with NBA teams.
25 March 2019: The objective
The significant disclosure was made by Kai Sotto more than three years ago. Sotto traveled to the US to begin his training after earning MVP at the high school level in order to pursue his ultimate dream of becoming an NBA player. On Instagram, Sotto, who was 17 at the time, left a message for his followers. 2019 November 9: improving the abilities
Sotto felt pressured to practice his newly refined techniques on the court after months of training in the US. He made an announcement about joining The Skill Factory, an instructional basketball league in Atlanta. The Skill Factory scrimmages’ high points demonstrated Sotto’s seriousness.
When the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend came around, Sotto kept up his work in the US and was chosen to attend the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Chicago. Former Basketball Without Borders campers Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, and Jamal Murray are all NBA players.
The third-overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, LaMelo Ball, began his career in the NBL before transferring to the NBA. 2021-05-13: JC Assist
Due to his NBL career, Sotto becomes more motivated to play in the NBA. In an interview with ESPN, Jordan Clarkson, the first NBA player of Filipino heritage since Raymond Townsend, gave Sotto some encouraging words of wisdom:
I just want to tell him to go outside, that’s all. Make a lot of effort and don’t set any boundaries. If you just put in the effort and keep grinding, the NBA will be there.
On July 1, 2021, Boban and I had fun.
To prepare for the fight inside the NBA paint, Sotto’s fitness and training mostly involved bulking up. The only encounter he ever had with an NBA big man came against Dallas Mavericks backup center Boban Marjanovic.
At the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia defeated Sotto and the Philippine national team behind Marjanovic’s 25 points. Sotto came prepared to battle with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
The starting date is 28 April 2022.
After an effective first year with the Adelaide 36ers and three years since he began working toward the end goal, Sotto declared for the 2022 NBA Draft. 27 May 2022: Team exercises
Sotto went on a roadshow a month before the draft to showcase his skills to a few NBA teams. In an interview with NBA Philippines, his agent, Joel Bell, said that a team had committed to drafting Sotto:
“We actually have a commitment from at least one team that said if he stays in the draft, they’ll draft him,” says the agent. “We have so many teams who want to bring him in for individual workouts.” June 15: Complete
On June 14, the withdrawal period for the draft ended. By June 15, Sotto’s camp was adamant: the 7-foot-3 Philippine shooter would still be eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft.
Meeting Jimmy Alapag and the Sacramento Kings on June 16
There is one week until the 2022 NBA Draft, and Sotto is still working hard. He met Jimmy Alapag, the legendary basketball player from the Philippines who is currently an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings’ G League club Stockton Kings, while working out with the Sacramento Kings alongside other prospects.