Kai Sotto wants to be an All-Star, Asia’s best in 5 years

Kai Sotto at the Basketball Without Borders NBA Camp. NBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto has big dreams the size of his 7-foot-2 frame.

Sotto is determined to become the first full-blooded Filipino to make the NBA and that’s not the only goal he is aiming for.

“I imagine myself being part of a great organization, a great team and I envision myself to be an All-Star and I would do everything I can to be an All-Star and to prove that I am a great player and to represent Asia,” Sotto said on Power & Play with Noli Eala when asked where he sees himself in five years.

“Five years from now, I wanna be the best in Asia, also being a Filipino and represent Philippines. That’s five years from now. I think that’s the dream,” he added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQJ6ShESsuE

The 18-year-old Sotto is very much on track in his road to the NBA after being part of the NBA G League’s first professional pathway program along with Fil-American Jalen Green and other top prospects in the US.

The G League select team, which will be under the guidance of head coach and former NBA veteran Brian Shaw, began its first training on Wednesday in Walnut Creek, California.

LOOK: 18-year-old Kai Sotto's NBA G League grind begins as the young Filipino phenom and the rest of the select team started their training in California on Monday.

The 7-foot-2 center hopes to become the first full-blooded Filipino to make the NBA. https://t.co/c9U1QUKvTK pic.twitter.com/mMKZPPcYez

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 2, 2020

Sotto and Green were among the first to go the G League route despite being heavily-recruited by several powerhouse collegiate programs.

“Ever since I started basketball, my first answer to all my interviews is to be an NBA player and everyday I always wake up and see people messaging me, ‘good luck Kai, we’re supporting you, good luck on your NBA dream,’” he said.

“Today I just think of it as a dream of a lot of people and that’s just a huge thing for a basketball player to have and I’m just focused on myself and my improvement every single day and just trying my best to be where I want to be in the future.”