The NBA is aware of the enthusiasm coming from the Philippines for the development of both Filipino standout Kai Sotto and Filipino-American sensation Jalen Green in the G League select team program.
The premier basketball league in the world also anticipates more young players of the same caliber to come from the Philippines and other international territories in the future.
“We see incredible excitement in the Philippines as result of Kai Sotto’s involvement with Team Ignite. By the way, Jalen Green also has Filipino heritage as well and he’s one of the top prospects in next year’s draft,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said during a global media call on Tuesday, December 22.
“What we see is continued, unprecedented interest in the game in the Philippines and other parts of the world.”
Sotto, a product of the NBA’s developmental system, has played for Team Ignite in two scrimmage games against NBA G League veterans. Although still far from being an NBA Draft prospect, the 18-year-old has displayed a promising shooting stroke for a big man and the ability to protect the rim with his 7-foot-2 frame.
Green, on the other hand, looks poised to contend for the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft as a potential franchise cornerstone.
“Players like Kai Sotto, who grew up in our Jr NBA program, and is now playing in Team Ignite in the G League…. Do we see more development of players coming from around the rest of the world? The short answer is, absolutely,” Tatum said.
Like Sotto, Asian prospect Princepal Singh from India is now part of the G League Ignite Team after developing through the Jr NBA program, with the goal of one day making it to the NBA.
“We are continuing to invest in the grassroots level, in Jr NBA programs around the world, in basketball school programs around the world, and at NBA academies in certain parts of the world to continue that process of developing elite talent that will eventually play in our league,” Tatum said.
Recent history and statistics are on Sotto’s side.
Tatum revealed that as of the NBA’s opening day on Tuesday (Wednesday, December 23, Manila time), the league has 107 international players from 41 different countries, including a record of 17 players from Canada and a record-tying 14 African players.
“This marks the seventh consecutive season that an opening night roster features more than 100 international players. It’s not just the quantity of the players but the quality. These are some of the best players in the game,” added Tatum.
International stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Pascal Siakam, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic made All-NBA teams in the 2019-2020 season.
Antetokounmpo, in addition, is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and two-time league MVP.
Kai for Gilas Pilipinas still a possibility?
After previously announcing he’d be available for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers, the chances of seeing Sotto in a Gilas Pilipinas jersey in February dwindled following reports of the G League season opening in the same month and its playoffs to be staged in March.
However, Tatum confirmed the NBA G League schedule has yet to be finalized.
“At this time, no decisions have been made regarding the 2020-2021 NBA G League season,” he said in response to a question about the new G League team from Mexico, the Capitanes. “I will tell you that we are discussing what the 2020-2021 season looks like for the G League, but it’s still a very fluid situation.”
“Once plans become more clear with respect to this upcoming season of the G League, I think we’ll be able to determine the future of Capitanes,” he added.
The same can be presumed for the future of Team Ignite.
Tatum also noted that the NBA and FIBA continue to work hand in hand for the best scheduling methods that would allow international players to see action for their respective NBA teams during the season and national teams in international play. – Rappler.com
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