Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to Kai Sotto’s NBA Summer League debut.
Kai Sotto made his debut in the 2023 NBA Vegas Summer League after not playing in the first three games for the Orlando Magic.
The 21-year-old Filippino prospect played a total of 13 minutes and put up six points, four rebounds and three blocks.
Here’s how NBA Twitter and Filippino fans reacted to Sotto’s long-awaited debut.
Here’s how Filippino NBA fans reacted to Kai Sotto not getting playing time in the NBA Summer League.
21-year-old Filipino prospect Kai Sotto is participating in this year’s NBA Summer League with Orlando.
However, in the first two games for the Magic, he hasn’t been on the court for a single minute.
NBA fans in the Philippines are unhappy with the Magic not playing Sotto and have reacted to it all over social media.
The 36ers became the first team from the NBL to defeat an NBA team after knocking off the Suns in Phoenix.
The Adelaide 36ers became the first team from the National Basketball League to defeat an NBA team when they knocked off the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game on Sunday.
The game marked the first time since 2019 that teams from the NBL and NBA met on the court. The two leagues started facing each other during the 2017-18 preseason, but the planned annual series was put on hold for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams from the NBL previously came close to defeating NBA teams, but they entered Sunday’s contest 0-15. The 134-124 win by the 36ers was just the third time an NBL team scored 100 points or more versus an NBA team.
Craig Randall II drained nine 3s for a team-high 35 points to lead the 36ers, while Robert Franks had 32 points and Antonio Cleveland added 22 points in the win. Kai Sotto, formerly of the NBA G League Ignite, had 11 points in 18 minutes.
The Suns rolled out their usual starting lineup of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Bridges and Ayton scored 22 points apiece while Booker finished with 13 points and Chris Paul had six points and 12 assists. Each player logged 22 minutes.
The 36ers will wrap up their trip to the United States on Thursday against Josh Giddey and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giddey played with the 36ers during the 2020-21 season.
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The Adelaide 36ers of the NBL are expected to play two NBA teams during their upcoming preseason slate.
Australian guard Josh Giddey and the Oklahoma City Thunder will reportedly host the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League during their preseason slate.
The game will mark the first time since 2019 that teams from the NBL and NBA will meet on the court. The two leagues started facing each other during the 2017-18 preseason, but the planned annual series was put on hold for two seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 36ers are expected to be the only team from the NBL to make the trek to the United States this year. In addition to the Thunder, they are also scheduled to play the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2022-23 season, according to The Australian.
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Giddey, who was born in Melbourne, was named the 2021 NBL Rookie of the Year with the 36ers after averaging 10.9 points, 7.6 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 28 games. He led all NBL players in assists that season and finished sixth in rebounding.
The 36ers head into the season led by Australian Mitch McCarron. The team added Americans Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland during the offseason and return Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Philippines, who played last season in Adelaide.
The preseason schedule for the teams has not been announced.
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After going undrafted last month, Sotto will return to the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL this season.
Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Philippines, on Friday announced he will return to play with the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League for the 2022-23 season.
Sotto, a former four-star prospect, averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field in 23 games last season with the 36ers. He produced perhaps his best game of the season on April 10, when he recorded a career-high 21 points.
The 20-year-old declared for the NBA draft in April and worked out for at least seven teams throughout the process. However, he went undrafted on June 23 and did not join a team for summer league.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgl7B2zufek/?hl=en
Sotto signed with the NBA G League Ignite for the 2020-21 season but never suited up due to prior obligations with the Philippines national team. He was the first international player to sign a contract with the G League.
He will have the opportunity to continue playing with the 36ers next season in an attempt to play in the NBA. The NBL has helped several players in recent years make it to the NBA, and Sotto looks to be the next in line.
The 36ers begin next season on Oct. 13 versus the Tasmania JackJumpers.
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The 7-foot-2 center has participated in at least six known workouts ahead of the NBA draft.
Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League, on Wednesday participated in a pre-draft workout with the Sacramento Kings, the team announced.
Sotto, a former four-star prospect from the Philippines, averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field in 23 games with the 36ers. He produced perhaps his best game of the season on April 10, when he recorded a career-high 21 points.
The 20-year-old declared for the NBA draft on April 28 after a strong year in the NBL. The meeting with the Kings is his sixth known workout to this point of the process after also visiting the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic among others.
a new day, a new group of prospects in the gym 💪👑
⬛️ Jacob Gilyard
⬛️ Fatts Russell
⬛️ Yoan Makoundou
⬛️ Karlo Matkovic
⬛️ Yannick Nzosa
⬛️ Kai SottoWatch the full workout ➡️ https://t.co/RuuwKif5fk pic.twitter.com/wIysqrJnCV
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) June 16, 2022
In addition to Sotto, the Kings also hosted Richmond guard Jacob Gilyard, Maryland guard Fatts Russell, Yoan Makoundou of Cholet Basket (France), Karlo Matkovic of KK Mega Basket (Serbia) and Yannick Nzosa of Unicaja Baloncesto (Spain).
The Kings enter the pre-draft process with picks No. 4, 37 and 49, respectively. They have hosted several workouts throughout the draft process and are said to even be interested in potentially trading down or out of the first round altogether.
The NBA draft will take place on June 23.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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Sotto, a former four-star prospect, recently participated in a pre-draft workout with the Magic in Orlando.
Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League, on Thursday participated in a pre-draft workout with the Orlando Magic.
Sotto, a former four-star prospect from the Philippines, averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field in 23 games with the 36ers. He produced perhaps his best game of the season on April 10 after recording a career-high 21 points.
The 20-year-old declared for the NBA draft on April 28 and was said to have at least 12 workouts scheduled with teams beginning this week. The workout with the Magic appeared to be his second one after he posted it to his Instagram story, via Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel.
Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Philippines, inside the Orlando Magic's locker room, presumably after a workout from earlier today.
Sotto, 20, spent the 2021–22 season with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian NBL. pic.twitter.com/lEvKnpFUxo
— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) May 27, 2022
Sotto signed with the NBA G League Ignite for the 2020-21 season but never suited up due to prior obligations with the Philippines national team. He was the first international player to sign a contract with the G League but eventually left to play in the NBL.
The Magic, who were awarded the No. 1 pick, also have selections 32 and 35 in the second round. They started to ramp up their pre-draft workouts recently with prospects like Colorado State forward David Roddy and NC State guard Dereon Seabron among those to meet with them.
The NBA draft will take place on June 23.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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