I remember sitting in my favorite coffee shop last Tuesday, scrolling through basketball forums on my phone while waiting for my latte. The steam from other customers' cups fogged up the windows as rain pattered outside—one of those perfect Manila afternoons where you can just feel the city's pulse through the glass. My eyes kept catching on the same question popping up across different threads: "Where Is Kai Sotto on the 2022 NBA Draft List? Find Out His Status." It struck me how this single question has become almost symbolic of our collective hope for Philippine basketball.
You see, I've been following Kai's journey since he was that lanky teenager dominating local courts. There's something about watching a hometown kid chase the dream that gets you emotionally invested in ways statistics can't capture. I remember talking to a fellow basketball enthusiast just last month who kept insisting Kai should've stayed in the US development system longer. But having watched numerous interviews with the young center, I've come to appreciate his unique approach to the game. His recent comments really stuck with me: "Typical na mindset pa rin to stay ready para sa opportunity na darating. Nakakatuwa ang coaching pero sumasabay ako sa kanila (AMA) just to maging fit," he added. "Nung dumating 'yung opportunity, hindi ko siya taken for granted. Hindi ko pinalagpas."
That mentality—the disciplined waiting while staying prepared—feels particularly relevant now. As I dug deeper into various mock drafts and expert analyses (I probably checked at least 15 different sites that afternoon), the picture that emerged was complex. Some projections had him going late second round, others didn't list him at all. The variance itself tells a story about how differently international prospects are evaluated compared to NCAA players. From what I've gathered through years of following the draft process, teams often stash international players differently—sometimes drafting them with the intention of leaving them overseas to develop further.
What many casual observers might not realize is that Kai's situation involves more than just basketball skills. At 7'3" with a wingspan of approximately 7'5" (these measurements vary by source, but this seems to be the consensus), his physical tools are undoubtedly NBA-caliber. But the business side of basketball creates additional considerations—contract buyouts, international roster spots, developmental timelines. I've always believed his court vision and shooting touch for someone his size are special, though he does need to add strength to compete against NBA physicality.
The coffee had gone cold by the time I finished my research, but I felt like I understood the situation better. Kai's approach—staying ready while with AMA in the PBA—shows maturity beyond what many draft prospects demonstrate. Rather than desperately chasing every workout opportunity, he's focusing on controllable factors: fitness, skill development, and game readiness. In a draft class featuring approximately 65 expected selections across two rounds, his path might be unconventional, but it's distinctly his own. Sometimes the most interesting stories in sports aren't about the top picks, but about the players who carve their own paths against conventional wisdom. And honestly, I find myself rooting harder for those stories anyway.
