Kai Sotto, the second youngest Adelaide 36ers’ player being groomed for next year’s NBA rookie draft, is expected to have his hands full playing against players much older than him very soon.
Adelaide 36ers’ team manager Jeff Van Groningen said this as they wait for the arrival of the 7’3” Sotto in Australia.
“Just like Josh Giddey, he’s going to be playing with grown men,” said Van Groningen, who noted that the 18-year-old Sotto’s exposure in the NBA G-League and in his collegiate days in the Philippines, were mostly players within his age bracket.
Exposing Sotto to matured and veteran players in the Australian National Basketball League will most likely help him level up on his development.
“He will continuously be pushed physically and mentally. There will be really good days for him, because he is going to be fatigued, because, he’s gonna get beaten up at times. And we really have good plans for him,” added Van Groningen.
Sotto won’t be alone in his next journey since he will be with another 18-year-old in Giddey, who also has set his sights on the NBA.
Thirteen months ago, the 36ers signed up the 6’8” Giddey as part of the Australian National Basketball League’s Next Stars Program.
The Next Stars program helps develop NBA draft prospects.
Giddey is on the same path as Sotto, with both playing in the NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
They were also part of Basketball Without Borders two years ago.
Van Groningen said the 36ers took interest in Sotto after an agent, Joel Bell, and his management team from East West Private told them him about the Filipino cager. Peter Atencio
“When we saw an initial film of him, we were immediately excited. He has a feel of the game. He does the little things within the game. And those type of (little) things. And those are the things that you can’t teach,” added Van Groningen.