I remember sitting in my living room on June 24, 2022, refreshing the NBA draft tracker every few minutes like thousands of Filipino basketball fans worldwide. We were all asking the same question: where did Kai Sotto land in the 2022 NBA draft list? The anticipation was electric, but the outcome wasn't what we'd hoped for—the 7'3" Filipino center went undrafted that night. I'll admit I felt that familiar pang of disappointment that comes when a dream gets deferred, but what struck me later was how Sotto himself responded to this setback.
Looking back at his journey, I've come to realize that his mindset reveals something profound about professional sports that we often overlook. In interviews leading up to the draft, Sotto shared what I believe is the key to understanding his path forward: "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 explained. "Nung dumating 'yung opportunity, hindi ko siya taken for granted. Hindi ko pinalagpas." This wasn't just another athlete saying the right things—this was the blueprint of someone who understood that the draft isn't the finish line, but merely a checkpoint in a much longer race.
What many casual observers miss about the NBA draft process is that approximately 65-70% of undrafted players who sign summer league contracts eventually find their way onto NBA rosters within two years. The math actually surprised me when I first researched it—there were 13 undrafted players on opening night rosters in the 2021-22 season alone. Sotto's approach reminds me of what I've seen in successful entrepreneurs—they don't wait for perfect conditions, they create them. His decision to join the Orlando Magic's Summer League team wasn't a consolation prize but a strategic move. I've always believed that talent gets you noticed, but preparation meets opportunity, and that's exactly what Sotto was doing while others might have been lamenting their draft position.
The beautiful irony of Sotto's situation is that going undrafted might have actually given him more flexibility in choosing his development path. Rather than being locked into a specific team's system, he had the freedom to showcase his skills in summer league, then sign with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's NBL—a league that has developed more NBA talent per capita than any other international circuit. Personally, I think this route might serve him better than being a second-round pick buried on a deep roster. The NBL's physical style perfectly complements what NBA teams want from modern big men—they're looking for players who can defend in space and stretch the floor, two areas where Sotto has shown flashes but needs consistent professional coaching to refine.
What fascinates me most about tracking Sotto's post-draft journey is how it challenges our conventional understanding of success in basketball. We're conditioned to see the draft as the ultimate validation, but the reality is that the NBA has never been more open to international players taking unconventional paths. Just look at players like Joe Ingles or Aron Baynes—they built careers through international development rather than immediate NBA transitions. Sotto's patience reminds me that sometimes the scenic route offers better preparation than the expressway.
As I reflect on where Kai Sotto landed after the 2022 NBA draft, I'm increasingly convinced that his destination matters less than his direction. His commitment to staying ready, his willingness to develop through alternative routes, and his gratitude for each opportunity represent what I believe is the new blueprint for international prospects. The draft night outcome wasn't the story—the real narrative is still being written every day in gyms and film sessions across the world. And if his mindset remains what he described, I wouldn't bet against that story having an NBA chapter sooner than most expect.
