FILIPINO cager Kai Sotto is set for a collision course against some of the top picks in the 2023 NBA Rookie Draft, giving the fans a chance on how he would fare against these bluechip youthful players in the Summer League.
Getting an invite to play for the Orlando Magic, Sotto, if given enough playing time, is set to play against the first-round picks of Detroit, Indiana and Portland.
While Sotto plays a different position (center, power forward), if given enough playing time, the 7-foot-3 Filipino could battle Detroit's Ausar Thompson when the Magic play the Pistons on July 9 at 5:30 a.m. (Manila time).
A 6-foot-7 winger drafted as fifth overall by Detroit, Thompson, 20, averaged 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.4 s†éáls for the City Reapers whom he led to the 2023 Overtime Elite championship. Thompson seized both the Season Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Finals MVP in that season.
Sotto, who is teammates with sixth overall pick in guard Anthony Black, will next face Jarace Walker when Orlando battle Indiana on July 11 at 8:30 a.m.
Washington drafted Walker eighth overall but traded him and two future second-round picks to the Pacers in exchange for the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly.
That Sotto and Walker going head-to-head is more feasible since the former, who stands at 6-foot-8, plays the power forward position.
Walker, 20, registered 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks for the Houston Cougars, winning the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year this 2023.
Last but definitely the highest pick that Sotto is going to face on this list is Scoot Henderson, a 6-foot-2 point guard drafted third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Sotto's Orlando and Henderson's Portland collide on July 14 at 9 a.m.
Henderson, 19, cashed in 17.6 points, 5.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds for the Ignite team in the NBA G-League 2023 season.
Besides Detroit, Indiana and Portland, Sotto and the Magic will also face the New York Knicks on July 13 at 8 a.m. Their fifth game is not yet announced as of posting time.
(S)The Manila Times
Getting an invite to play for the Orlando Magic, Sotto, if given enough playing time, is set to play against the first-round picks of Detroit, Indiana and Portland.
While Sotto plays a different position (center, power forward), if given enough playing time, the 7-foot-3 Filipino could battle Detroit's Ausar Thompson when the Magic play the Pistons on July 9 at 5:30 a.m. (Manila time).
Sotto, who is teammates with sixth overall pick in guard Anthony Black, will next face Jarace Walker when Orlando battle Indiana on July 11 at 8:30 a.m.
Washington drafted Walker eighth overall but traded him and two future second-round picks to the Pacers in exchange for the draft rights to Bilal Coulibaly.
That Sotto and Walker going head-to-head is more feasible since the former, who stands at 6-foot-8, plays the power forward position.
Walker, 20, registered 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 blocks for the Houston Cougars, winning the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year this 2023.
Last but definitely the highest pick that Sotto is going to face on this list is Scoot Henderson, a 6-foot-2 point guard drafted third overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Sotto's Orlando and Henderson's Portland collide on July 14 at 9 a.m.
Henderson, 19, cashed in 17.6 points, 5.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds for the Ignite team in the NBA G-League 2023 season.
Besides Detroit, Indiana and Portland, Sotto and the Magic will also face the New York Knicks on July 13 at 8 a.m. Their fifth game is not yet announced as of posting time.
(S)The Manila Times