Jordan Clarkson to Kai Sotto: 'Keep grinding'

If there's one piece of advice Filipino-American and Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson would give to his kababayan Kai Sotto, it would be for the latter to keep grinding and seizing the opportunity he has in his hands.

"The best advice that I could give to him is to stay in the gym and keep continuing to work," Clarkson said in a media availability session Saturday morning (Manila time). 

At 18, Sotto has been laying the groundwork for his journey in the National Basketball Association (NBA), being a part of the G League select team Ignite along with other basketball prospects. 

Clarkson considers Sotto's NBA G League stint as an "eye opening experience" which should be maximized.

"You're around NBA pro guys and coaches, just having that, being around that experience is gonna be great for him, especially at a young age," he said.

Clarkson, who also played in the former NBA Developmental League, advised Sotto to trust the process in reaching his NBA dreams.

"[I would] tell them to put their nose down, keep grinding and put the time in because it's all going to work out at the end of the day," the Utah guard said.

The Jazz recently signed Clarkson who they consider as "an aggressive, competitive talent that leads by example." In his games as a Utah player, the Fil-Am posted an average of 15.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 41 games.

Sotto, on the other hand, is currently training in the United States with Ignite. In their game Friday, Sotto posted 6 markers and 6 boards.

The 7-foot-2 big man also recently reaffirmed his commitment to Gilas Pilipinas ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

However, it is not yet clear if he will play in the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which will be hosted by the Philippines. —JCB, GMA News