Shaw: Kai has what it takes to be like Jokic

MANILA, Philippines — For G League Select Team coach Brian Shaw, sky’s the limit for Filipino prospect Kai Sotto, whom he feels has what it takes to be like Serbian All Star Nikola Jokic.

And he vowed to help the 7-foot-2 teener reach this potential.

“I think he has the ability to play like Nikola Jokic,” Shaw said yesterday in a media availability session arranged by NBA Philippines.

“Kai can shoot from the outside. He can be a facilitator where you can put him on the top of the floor, give him the ball and let him do dribble-handoffs much like Jokic. So I see him as a pretty versatile guy,” he added.

The 18-year-old Sotto opted for the G-League route in his pursuit of the NBA, skipping college play. He’ll be teaming up with a bunch of elite young guns in the developmental team, led by  Fil-Am Jalen Green, a prospective first rounder.

“Kai is a great player. I think he can be good and we’ll be really great together,” said Green in a separate media chat. “Other than that we got to represent the Philippines so it’s going to be exciting.”

Green, whose mother traces her roots to Ilocos, also expressed openness to represent the Philippines in international play someday.

“It could be a possibility,” said the high-flyer.

But he had previously suited up for USA’s winning team in the 2019 FIBA U-19 World Cup and won MVP in the U17 worlds the year before and may not meet the FIBA‘s eligibility rules to join Gilas.