The much-awaited debut of Kai Sotto is finally happening as his Adelaide 36ers battle the league's newest squad Tasmania Jackjumpers in the opening of the National Basketball League (NBL) 2021-2022 season on December 3.
Initially slated to fire off on November 18, the league decided to push the opening date back a couple of weeks further following COVID-19 pandemic concerns in the country. The move was also to assure that the league can better accommodate fans in the arena.
“While it’s only a few weeks later than we originally planned, the new start date gives us a greater level of comfort and flexibility as we navigate through the current environment and prioritise having our growing number of fans courtside around the country and in New Zealand,” NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said in a statement.
“The NBL is a fan-first product and playing in front of crowds is vital for the league and our clubs. Giving supporters an even better chance of seeing their teams compete at home was a key driver in moving things back slightly and in how we’ve structured the schedule,” he added.
After the 36ers debut at MyState Bank Arena in Hobart, the 7'3 Sotto will figure in a titanic clash with Chinese 7'5 center Liu Chuanxing when Adelaide squares off against Brisbane Bullets at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on December 5.
Adelaide will then face the Perth Wildcats on December 12 and Cairns Taipans on December 18.