Kai Sotto Thread

[fthesaint2]

NBA is not going anywhere so Kai and his handlers should keep it simple and not overcomplicate things, especially since he has the luxury of time. What is important is to keep on improving and in whichever league he plays, his mindset should be not just to help his team win but to dominate, and every time he gets to don the national jersey, he should work his socks off and lead the team to victory. He has special abilities for a big man the NBA or any basketball league in the world simply couldn't ignore.
Keep improving - Dominate (while earning big bucks ) - Represent - Be Noticed -> NBA

 

[mapuakid2]

Kai is the NBL23 Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP

 

[Linusports2]

Kai is the NBL23 Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP

@NBL

THE FANS HAVE SPOKEN Kai Sotto is your #NBL23
@ChemistWhouse
Fans MVP for the second straight season #TheGazeys live on ESPN + the NBL social channels


All votes were from Australia right? (I'll certainly miss NBL and Adelaide) them support towards KAI feels genuine...
*whatever happens this 2023-2024 NBA offseason with KAI - knock on wood he don't get sign by an NBA Team, Hope he comebacks to 36ers and be part of their lead.

 

[PaVi2]

Import in PBA and Asian-import in Japan are totally different things. If what you mean is Kai being a PBA-type import where he's the main option, that's the coach's discretion. Hiroshima can take that gamble since they're at the top of the standings. Kai will make them formidable ala-Ateneo Blue Eaglets in the UAAP Jrs.

When you watched a game, you know who are imports, because they play, act, contribute, and impact the game as imports and not as locals. Even if locals are having a good game, you know and expect what those imports bring to the table.

 

[paliganibossalfrancis2]

When you watched a game, you know who are imports, because they play, act, contribute, and impact the game as imports and not as locals. Even if locals are having a good game, you know and expect what those imports bring to the table.

As I've said PBA and BLeague Asian quota (Kiefer, BRP, Thirdy, Wright, Kobe, Dwight) imports are different. Those mentioned are signed to contribute to the system, not carry the team (12-15ppg is enough), whereas in the PBA when you sign Jonathon Simmons, Justin Brownlee, Quincy Miller and Terrence Jones you expect them to carry the load (25-35ppg is a must), aside from scoring they have to make the whole team look good too, plus they also get the favor on calls.

It will be interesting to see how Hiroshima will treat Kai and what role he's gonna have. But given the caliber of the BLeague, which is slightly lower than the NBL and arguably par with PBA, he's gotta be the main option, an imposing presence down low and a reliable shooter. When he was in the NBL, the ball had to go through Franks, Cleveland and Randall II first, while Kai cleans up their mess or bails them out when trapped. In the BLeague he has an opportunity to showcase the whole repertoire.

 

[jasper2222]

@NBL

THE FANS HAVE SPOKEN Kai Sotto is your #NBL23
@ChemistWhouse
Fans MVP for the second straight season #TheGazeys live on ESPN + the NBL social channels


All votes were from Australia right? (I'll certainly miss NBL and Adelaide) them support towards KAI feels genuine...
*whatever happens this 2023-2024 NBA offseason with KAI - knock on wood he don't get sign by an NBA Team, Hope he comebacks to 36ers and be part of their lead.

I don't know if it's racial or regional bias but my younger sister just came back from Australia and she said Kai is popular in Adelaide from the trip she took there. I'm sure not all the votes were Aussie but I'd like to believe at least 1/3rd of them were.

It will be interesting to see how Hiroshima will treat Kai and what role he's gonna have. But given the caliber of the BLeague, which is slightly lower than the NBL and arguably par with PBA, he's gotta be the main option, an imposing presence down low and a reliable shooter. When he was in the NBL, the ball had to go through Franks, Cleveland and Randall II first, while Kai cleans up their mess or bails them out when trapped. In the BLeague he has an opportunity to showcase the whole repertoire.

Some Japanese fans are expecting the 20-25 ppg import caliber out of Kai.

 

[thatweirdguy2]

As I've said PBA and BLeague Asian quota (Kiefer, BRP, Thirdy, Wright, Kobe, Dwight) imports are different. Those mentioned are signed to contribute to the system, not carry the team (12-15ppg is enough), whereas in the PBA when you sign Jonathon Simmons, Justin Brownlee, Quincy Miller and Terrence Jones you expect them to carry the load (25-35ppg is a must), aside from scoring they have to make the whole team look good too, plus they also get the favor on calls.

It will be interesting to see how Hiroshima will treat Kai and what role he's gonna have. But given the caliber of the BLeague, which is slightly lower than the NBL and arguably par with PBA, he's gotta be the main option, an imposing presence down low and a reliable shooter. When he was in the NBL, the ball had to go through Franks, Cleveland and Randall II first, while Kai cleans up their mess or bails them out when trapped. In the BLeague he has an opportunity to showcase the whole repertoire.

If you think Kai's situation in Adelaide is bad wait till you see him play in the Summer League.. he'll be getting less touches. It's every man for himself.

 

[sroth38392]

If you think Kai's situation in Adelaide is bad wait till you see him play in the Summer League.. he'll be getting less touches. It's every man for himself.

yeah lol I remember when BRP was in the summer league. Every guy on the floor was literally ball hogging. No one gives a shit.

 

[paliganibossalfrancis2]

If you think Kai's situation in Adelaide is bad wait till you see him play in the Summer League.. he'll be getting less touches. It's every man for himself.

I think Kai's already played enough games to know what it takes to be effective without getting as much touches as he would want. He already knows what to expect playing with extremely selfish players like Randall II, and he's aware he's gonna have teammates like that in Summer League.

His experience in the NBL and BLeague will be contrasting. In the NBL he learned how to be an efficient ancillary player, while in the BLeague he'll learn how to be the protagonist.

We still have to see how he'll be utilized in the high post and the low post, where it's all him and he has to create. As of now it's all drop passes and lobs.

Also, since I don't see him being an iso at the top player anytime soon, it's important for Kai to use his time in the BLeague to learn how to attack gaps from pick-and-pop situations especially since defenders actually respect his shot. Think of Andray Blatche's signature shot fake wraparound bump euro to the basket -- although capable, we've never seen Kai do those things, attack strong to the basket and finish, shoot off the dribble. It's sort of like he's always waiting, reliant on his teammates, scouts want to see Kai's ability to create for himself. It's funny though, cause the NBA ceiling for Kai might actually be a taller Dray Blatche.

 

[thatweirdguy2]

I think Kai's already played enough games to know what it takes to be effective without getting as much touches as he would want. He already knows what to expect playing with extremely selfish players like Randall II, and he's aware he's gonna have teammates like that in Summer League.

His experience in the NBL and BLeague will be contrasting. In the NBL he learned how to be an efficient ancillary player, while in the BLeague he'll learn how to be the protagonist.

We still have to see how he'll be utilized in the high post and the low post, where it's all him and he has to create. As of now it's all drop passes and lobs.

Also, since I don't see him being an iso at the top player anytime soon, it's important for Kai to use his time in the BLeague to learn how to attack gaps from pick-and-pop situations especially since defenders actually respect his shot. Think of Andray Blatche's signature shot fake wraparound bump euro to the basket -- although capable, we've never seen Kai do those things, attack strong to the basket and finish, shoot off the dribble. It's sort of like he's always waiting, reliant on his teammates, scouts want to see Kai's ability to create for himself. It's funny though, cause the NBA ceiling for Kai might actually be a taller Dray Blatche.

SL teams usually give the most minutes and shots to their own draft picks. Then the journeymen and unsigned/undrafted players would have to fight for scraps in hopes of impressing NBA teams or international teams into signing them. Honestly playing for Ignite might have been better despite presumably getting low shots/minutes. At least there's a semblance of structure and team play.

 

[DAdmiral2]

^^
It's also true for the 2 way contracts (limited to two per team) it's normally reserved for either it's current or recent draft picks, the logic is simple since teams have limited roster spots and 2 way contracts , they would rather allocate 2 ways for upside development ( no need to give these guys minutes as they're stashed for development ) , the rest of the roster spots ( full guaranteed contracts) should logically be alloted to guys who actually will play and get minutes, otherwise a team is wasting money and cap space on players they're not using for the season.

 

[Linusports2]

Scout Sense:

SL, Summer League? more like Sweat League...
How can a reasonable scout generate a decent 2-minute player play video profile or a 2-page scouting report for a player situated in a 2-week run and sweat summer league?
This where "professional leagues" resume weights importance for NBA teams having good to great Scout - coaching staff like the Spurs, Heat, and Raptors

Kai's scout source material preference:
B League: 2-month Reps (15 to 18 games)
FIBA 6th Window: 1 week (2 games)
Summer League: 2 weeks (4 games)

Basically KAI getting the B League stint serves him an additional creds on his resume.

 

[Rodbi2]

Some Japanese fans are expecting the 20-25 ppg import caliber out of Kai.[/QUOTE]

Won't surprise me if Kai manages to accomplish such feat. After all, he's already got the offensive repertoire to hit such metric an such a young age. He just has to hurdle whatever PT issue that may arise due to competition with his future world import teammates.

 

[PeeZones2]

 

[PeeZones2]

 

[PeeZones2]

As long as Kai wont have issues with passes from his teammates, then scoring a lot won't be difficult. Hopefully, the local Japanese will not hesitate on passing to Kai. The only concern would be the world imports who would possibly want the limelight.

 

[magic_chiongson2]

Some Japanese fans are expecting the 20-25 ppg import caliber out of Kai.

Won't surprise me if Kai manages to accomplish such feat. After all, he's already got the offensive repertoire to hit such metric an such a young age. He just has to hurdle whatever PT issue that may arise due to competition with his future world import teammates.

that's BS, b-league's top scorer is only averaging 22 ppg, there are only 5 players scoring more than 20 ppg in the entire league. if kai's stats are around 12 ppg 8 rbs 2 blks per game in around 20 mpg i think that's a great accomplishment already

 

[carmelo72]

that's BS, b-league's top scorer is only averaging 22 ppg, there are only 5 players scoring more than 20 ppg in the entire league. if kai's stats are around 12 ppg 8 rbs 2 blks per game in around 20 mpg i think that's a great accomplishment already

If he makes 18/10/2blks/4 ast per that'll be good as an Asian import, i dont think he'll get a lot
of plays with 2 world
imports on the team

 

[jasper2222]

that's BS, b-league's top scorer is only averaging 22 ppg, there are only 5 players scoring more than 20 ppg in the entire league. if kai's stats are around 12 ppg 8 rbs 2 blks per game in around 20 mpg i think that's a great accomplishment already

What's BS, the ability or the expectation?

Because I'm talking about the expectation of the Japanese fans, not us. You've heard the news of Hiroshima willing to give/match an NBA salary to keep him around, plus the amount of coverage he's been getting in Japan (not just Hiroshima). Basketball is not Japan's favorite sport (it's baseball), but the kind of news hype he's been given is off the charts.

Apparently it was a very big deal to them when Kai pushed out Japanese sensation Chikara Tanaka all those years ago, and it stuck with them to this day.

 

[magic_chiongson2]

What's BS, the ability or the expectation?

Because I'm talking about the expectation of the Japanese fans, not us. You've heard the news of Hiroshima willing to give/match an NBA salary to keep him around, plus the amount of coverage he's been getting in Japan (not just Hiroshima). Basketball is not Japan's favorite sport (it's baseball), but the kind of news hype he's been given is off the charts.

Apparently it was a very big deal to them when Kai pushed out Japanese sensation Chikara Tanaka all those years ago, and it stuck with them to this day.

both, if they are thinking a 20-year-old undrafted kid becoming basically a top 5 player in a league that has several nba & euroleague veterans, especially after a pedestrian NBL season. if this was the PBA all filipino cup then yeah those expectations are reasonable.

also, that's assuming that's the majority sentiment of japanese basketball fans. i doubt they are as dumb as some pinoy basketball/kai "fans"