Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson urged Kai Sotto to work doubly hard in hopes of fulfilling his ultimate goal of playing in the NBA.
Clarkson said during a Zoom media availability with Manila-based scribes that the stint with the NBA G-League Select Team is a good opportunity for Sotto to improve his skills and learn more about the tricks of the trade.
“The best advice I got for him is to stay in the gym and to keep continuing to work,” Clarkson said. “When you’re around NBA pros, guys and coaches with experiences, it’s great for him especially at a young age.
Sotto recently suited up for the Ignite in a pair of scrimmages against G-League veterans this week.
He scored five points but added five rebounds and two blocks in the first game that saw the Ignite fall 113-107.
Sotto then posted six points, six rebounds and a block during the second scrimmage that resulted in a 125-99 win for the G-League vets.
Read: Ignite coach Shaw surprised but supportive of Sotto’s recommitment to Gilas
Still, Ignite coach Brian Shaw, who was part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ title runs in the early-2000s, lauded the Las Pinas City native for his progress.
“I think those guys are getting experiences, eye-opening experiences that a lot of kids don’t get. So having that underneath, just telling them to put their nose down and keep grinding and put the time in coz it’s all gonna work out at the end of the day,” said Clarkson.