How playing in Australia helped Kai Sotto push NBA bid

MANILA, Philippines – The time of reckoning is almost here for Filipino NBA prospect Kai Sotto as the 2022 NBA draft looms on Thursday (Friday, Manila time).

Having played with the Adelaide 36ers for a season in the Australian NBL before declaring for the NBA draft earlier this year, Sotto hopes to have an advantage over his peers.

Being able to know the ins-and-outs of pro hoops, Sotto believes the stint Down Under helped him develop further from his days in Ateneo High School.

"Oh, it really helped me a lot," Sotto said in an interview with the Indiana Pacers after doing a pre-draft workout with the squad.

"Just the experience, just hanging around with the guys and learning from everybody — starting from my staff, my teammates, and to my coaches and to my opponents, just the whole year was a really fun experience. Really learned a lot and really helped me develop and improve as a player," he added.

.@Adelaide36ers center Kai Sotto (@kzsottolive) talks about what it would mean to be the first player born in the Philippines to play in the NBA and how playing in the @NBL prepared him to make that jump.#GoldOnTheClock pic.twitter.com/oAo5h51GZZ

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 21, 2022

In his one year with Adelaide, the 7'3" big man averaged 7.52 points and 4.48 rebounds. He played his best game against the Brisbane Bullets last April 11, exploding for 21 points and hauling three rebounds.

Though still flying under the radar ahead of the draft, Sotto is so far the first homegrown Filipino to have a close shot of making it to the NBA.

Knowing what it means for himself and for the country, Sotto said he does not miss the way that his fellow Filipinos are rooting for him.

"Now, I'm getting closer to my dream and to our dream. But yeah, it's been fun," said Sotto.

"It's a lot of attention but I think I'm really thankful for all their support and those, I don't take for granted," he added.

And Sotto hopes to open doors for his countrymen if he shatters the ceiling.

"If I make it to the NBA, I'll be the first Filipino and my dream is to help others to get here too," he said.