Ability to defend will determine Kai’s NBA chances
There’s no doubt Filipino teenager Kai Sotto can eventually raise his offensive skills to NBA level, but it’s his ability to impact the other end of the floor that will ultimately determine his stock when he enters the draft.
That was the assessment of Gilas Pilipinas interim coach Mark Dickel of TNT, who noted Sotto’s tremendous improvement over the past year since he moved to the United States to train extensively under the watchful eyes of former NBA player Chuck Person.
Saying it was the best path that will take him to his dreams of becoming the first homegrown Filipino to play in the NBA, the 7-foot-2 Sotto committed to join the NBA G League select team last week, spurning offers from top collegiate programs in the United States.
“I think he’s a super talent, but it’s just hard to know where the right way to go is,” said the TNT active consultant recently on the Hoop Coaches International webinar.
“When you’re 7-foot-2 and your best attribute is you’re a great passer, I mean that can work, but the game is changing all the time so he has to stretch his game all the way to the three-point line with his shooting.” But in a league where players are stronger, more athletic and quicker, Sotto has his work cut out for him.
The G League select program however will be providing Sotto an opportunity to accelerate his on-court development as he learns NBA-style basketball.
Dickel, a former University of Las Vegas-Nevada point guard who played in Europe for 12 years, believes Sotto’s ability to defend the pick and roll will determine how far he will go in the league.
“I think one of the most important things he has to improve on is defense, especially guarding the pick and roll. I think he can do that, but guarding that is the hardest thing that big guys learn.”
Dickel believes Sotto’s offense should be polished enough in three years to cause serious problems for other teams.
“The offensive end is going to be far easy for him compared to the defensive end,” Dickel said. INQ
