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Kai Sotto goes undrafted in NBA 2022 draft

Sports | Basketball

Kai Sotto goes undrafted in NBA 2022 draft

By Reynald I. Magallon

Photo from Adelaide 36ers

Filipino sensation Kai Sotto went undrafted in the NBA 2022 Rookie Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Friday, June 24 (Manila time).

Hopes were high for the 7-foot-3 center to be included in the 58 aspirants who got their names called by NBA Commissioner Adams Silver and his deputy Mark Tatum but it didn’t happen as his bid to be the first homegrown Filipino player in the NBA took a turn to a much tougher road.

All is not lost for the 20-year-old center as he can still get a team to sign him through the free agency.

It will be easier said than done, however, as Sotto, now an unrestricted free agent, hopes to get a call-up to play in the NBA Summer League where he can prove his worth and try to convince NBA teams to sign him in their rosters.

Despite being not included in the final projections of the top US sports website for the draft, Sotto who had the chance to withdraw early on, still went on with his application as agent Joel Bell showed optimism about Sotto’s chances — even saying that an NBA team has committed to draft the former Adelaide 36ers center.

After failing to get an invitation to the draft combine, Sotto worked out with a couple of NBA teams in the past few months, namely New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers.

Aside from Sotto, Remy Martin and Ron Harper Jr., players with Filipino heritage, also missed the draft.

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NBA 2022 Rookie Draft kai sotto

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