In his NBA Summer League debut, Kai Sotto made a deliberate choice to prioritize defense during the Orlando Magic’s 88-71 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night (Friday, Manila time) at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to the Filipino center, his primary focus was not on scoring but rather on utilizing his 7-foot-3 frame to disrupt and challenge opponents shots during his limited time on the court.
Sotto concluded the game with an impressive stat line, recording three blocks, one of which was against Trail Blazers’ sophomore guard Shaedon Sharpe. Additionally, he contributed six points, three rebounds, and one assist during his 13 minutes of play.
“I didn’t play a lot, but I focused on asserting myself as a defensive presence, especially in the paint,” Sotto said in an interview that was posted on Orlando’s social media page.
“Being one of the tallest players out there, or maybe the tallest, I need to help my team protect the paint when I’m on the court,” added the Gilas Pilipinas big man.
While currently under contract with the Japan B.League’s Hiroshima Dragonflies, Sotto openly acknowledged the need to further develop his defensive skills, acknowledging the distinct disparity in competition level between the NBA and Japan or Australia.
“I need to maximize each and every possession, especially when I’m out there. Both offensively and defensively, I need to be solid. But for me, defense is the key factor,” Sotto said.
“I have to keep working on my off-ball defense, on-ball defense, protecting the paint, and guarding perimeter players. My focus is to impact the game defensively,” he added.
Sotto will have one last chance to take the court for the Orlando Magic in the Summer League, as they are set to compete against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night (Sunday, Manila time) at the same venue.
“I am very happy to be here. It’s a blessing to experience all of this, and I am grateful for the support of so many people. That’s one of the things I think about every day. I always have something to look forward to and push myself for, and hopefully, I can make them proud,” said Sotto.
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