Filipino prospect Kai Sotto has vowed to continue chasing his dream to play in the National Basketball Association and make his countrymen proud.
“I won’t stop pursuing the dream of being in the NBA… this is not the end,” said Sotto in a social media post.
The 7’2” center became a free agent after he was left undrafted in the NBA 2022 Draft at the Barclays Center in New York on Friday (Philippine time).
This means Sotto can now negotiate directly with any NBA team interested in his services or he can explore other options in his bid to become the first homegrown Filipino to make it to greatest pro basketball league in the world.
He also clarified that he has not decided yet on his next step, including playing for Gilas Pilipinas instead of joining the NBA summer league.
“I also want to clarify that no decision has been made about me not playing in the summer league. May agent misspoke,” Sotto said.
Nevertheless, he expressed appreciation to his fellow Filipinos show of support.
“I still am always thankful for all the support I could get from my fellow Filipinos and I’m just happy na whatever happens, they’re always there for me,” Sotto said in a video interview.
“(But) I just feel like I let a lot the people down. I will always remember this feeling,” he added.
Team looking for a big man project for future use may still sign Sotto to a rookie deal or a two-day contract at any time during the 2022-2023 season.
He may also sign with any PBA G-League team in the NBA Developmental League or continue his two-year contract with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League.
In his rookie season with Adelaide, Sotto averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in just over 15 minutes per game.
Other prospects with Filipino lineage that were left undrafted were Remy Martin, Ron Harper Jr. and Boogie Ellis. Of the three Filipino-Americans, only Martin has a Philippine passport.
Sotto can follow the path of undrafted NBA players, who made it big in the league like Raptors’ Fred VanVleet, Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons and John Starks of the New York Knicks.
Meanwhile, Paolo Banchero was the surprise top pick at the NBA Draft as the Orlando Magic confounded expectations by swooping for the towering teenager from Duke University.
The highly rated 19-year-old power forward—who stands 6ft 10in (2.08m) and weighs in at 250 pounds (113kg)—averaged 17.2 points per game in the 2021-2022 season.
With Banchero going with the top pick, Chet Holmgren was snapped up by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the second selection.
The 7ft tall Holmgren was a standout for Gonzaga University, averaging 14.1 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Banchero and Holmgren’s selections left the Houston Rockets free to pick Auburn University’s Jabari Smith with the third selection.
Smith, who had been tipped by many as the No.1 pick, averaged 16.9 points per game along with 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his single college season for the Tigers.