Kai Sotto makes NBA Summer League debut

Kai Sotto was able to make his debut in the NBA 2K24 Summer League on Friday (Manila time) in the Orlando Magic’s 88-71 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The 7-foot-3 Filipino center six points, four rebounds, three blocks, and one assist. He shot 3-for-7 (42.9-percent) from the field and turned the ball over twice.

Sotto entered the game at the start of the second period and was able to log two rebounds and a block before subbing out at the 4:23 mark of the same quarter.

He checked back in late in the third quarter and was able to score his first basket, a putback that allowed the Magic to cut their deficit down, 67-46.

Sotto converted on two more field goals and blocked two shots in the fourth quarter, though the Blazers had the game in control by that point.

His debut finally came after much anticipation as he did not see minutes in the Magic's first three games of Summer League.

Sotto was benched in an 89-78 loss to the Detroit Pistons, a 108-85 defeat to the Indiana Pacers, and a close 82-80 overtime squeaker against the New York Knicks.

The young big man recently renewed his contract with the Hiroshima Dragonflies for the 2023-2024 Japan B. League season, but with an option to sign with an NBA team this summer.

Sotto is part of the Gilas Pilipinas national team's pool of players that could be selected to compete in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila this August.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News