Author: Monojit Mandal
As Kai Sotto, the rising star from the Philippines, prepares to take the court for the Orlando Magic in the 2023 Summer League, Las Vegas is set to see an intriguing duel of young basketball stars. The tournament is scheduled to begin on July 7 and promises exciting contests between the NBA’s greatest young players.
Sotto, who was named to the Magic’s 22-man Summer League team, will have the opportunity to play with other potential talents, Anthony Black and Jett Howard, who were selected by the Magic with the sixth and eleventh overall picks in the recent NBA draft. Dylan Murphy, the renowned coach of the Osceola Magic, will guide the group.
With Frenchman Victor Wembanyama as the first pick in the draw, Sotto, who measures 1.80m, becomes the Magic’s tallest player. He’ll be fighting for playing time with DJ Wilson and Robert Baker, two powerful big men. Sotto’s goal in the Summer League is to showcase his skills and gain exposure, with the ultimate goal of landing a spot on an NBA team for the upcoming 2023-2024 season.
Other notable players on the Magic roster include two-way players Caleb Houstan and Kevon Harris, as well as former PBA import Malcolm Hill. Hill, who has played for the Star Hotshots of the Philippine Basketball Association, spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago Bulls.
During the Summer League, the Orlando Magic will face tough competition from the Portland Trail Blazers, who have Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick, the Detroit Pistons, who have Ausar Thompson, the fifth overall pick, the Indiana Pacers, who have Bennedict Mathurin, a member of the All-Rookie Team, and the New York Knicks.
In an exciting twist, Sotto will face former Adelaide 36ers teammate Mojave King, who was picked 47th by the Los Angeles Lakers before being transferred to the Pacers.
The Summer League will include all 30 NBA clubs, each of which will play a minimum of five games.
Basketball fans are looking forward to the start of the Summer League, where the brightest young talents will fight hard in the hope of making a lasting impression and paving their way to success in the NBA.