 |
| Based on Sotto’s post and stories, he is eager to lead the 36ers in rising from a seventh-place finish with a 10-18 record last season. Kai Sotto. (Photo by=ADELAIDE 36ERS) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA: Kai Sotto is returning to the Adelaide 36ers for the second straight season in Australia’s National Basketball League after he went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Rookie Draft, PH Inquirer Sports reported.
The 7-foot-3 center on Friday announced on his Instagram that he is making a comeback for the 36ers in the 2022-23 season. “Let’s run it back Adelaide 36ers!!! #Year2,” Sotto wrote. The NBL also took to social media to share Aussie Hoopla Podcast’s interview with Adelaide coach CJ Bruton where it was revealed that the Filipino basketball prodigy is returning. “He is,” Bruton answered when he was asked about Sotto’s return. The 20-year-old went undrafted in the NBA Draft despite working out with several teams like Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers.
But he remained defiant in chasing his NBA dream despite not making it through the draft. Sotto also signed with distinguished sports agency Wasserman, replacing his agent Joel Bell weeks after he didn’t make it to an NBA team. The 20-year-old big man had an impressive first NBL season, averaging 7.6 points on 51 percent field goal shooting including a 39 percent rating from the three-point line, and had 4.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 15.2 minutes in 23 games.
