Kai Sotto receives NBA Summer League invitation, set to boost Orlando Magic

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipino NBA aspirant Kai Sotto’s dreams of entering the biggest professional basketball league in the world are not yet over.

After transferring from one NBA team training camp to another, the young Filipino center finally got a shot at playing in the NBA Summer League after receiving an invite from the Orlando Magic confirmed last June 23, 2023.

It was NBA Philippines who first delivered the positive news to Filipino hoops fans and added that Sotto will be suiting up for the Magic from July 7-17, 2023, to be held in Las Vegas.

Sotto attended three camps before getting acquired by Orlando for the Summer League. He first went to the Dallas Mavericks then the New York Knicks and lastly, the Utah Jazz.

This will be a crucial part of Sotto’s acquisition stock as his performance in the upcoming Summer League will determine his chances of entering the NBA.

Several players who didn’t make the cut during the NBA Draft will have the chance to be signed by any team basing on their efficiency in the Summer League.

If Sotto will bring a consistent and decent outing in the Summer League, he will have a major chance of finally becoming the first-ever full-blooded Filipino to become an NBA talent.

Sotto is coming off a contract extension with the Hiroshima Dragonflies but the Japan B. League-based squad confirmed that if he will be able to enter the NBA, they are still open to giving him a chance of living his dream.

“So if he signs with an NBA team this summer, there is a possibility that his contract with Hiroshima will be canceled,” said Dragonflies general manager Shuji Okazaki.

Sotto reiterated that his main goal is to still play in the NBA and will be testing the waters again this year after failing to make the cut last NBA Rookie Draft.