BIO: Kai Sotto was born in Las Piñas (Philippines).

In the United States, Sotto was considered a consensus four-star recruit by major recruiting services. He was recruited by several NCAA Division I programs and on May 13, 2020, that Sotto joined the NBA G League Ignite, forgoing his college eligibility.

Sotto was expected to miss several games with Ignite after he opted to play for the Philippine national team at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers given by logistical issues caused by COVID-19 pandemic-related travel restrictions. After being able to return to the United States, the NBA G League announced that it has reached a “mutual decision” that Sotto would not be able to rejoin Ignite.

On April 21, 2021, Sotto signed a contract to play for the Adelaide 36ers as a “Special Restricted Player”, which allows Asian players to play as locals. Sotto is guaranteed two years in his contract with a option to play for the 36ers for a third year.

FAMILY: The son of Filipino basketball player Ervin Sotto

NBL EXPERIENCE

Kai Sotto made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 19 years of age. He scored one point in his first NBL game.

In 2021/22, Sotto averaged 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists as the 36ers finished in seventh place (10-18).

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2022/23
After a tough NBL22 season marred by injuries and a lack of team cohesion, head coach CJ Bruton remained hopeful for a turnaround, with a full offseason allowing him to make the necessary preparations for success. The 36ers retained a core group of players, including Mitch McCarron (captain), Anthony Drmic, Daniel Johnson, Sunday Dech, Hyrum Harris, and Kai Sotto, aiming to build a solid foundation for the new season.

Adelaide made significant moves during the off-season, signing proven NBL imports Antonius Cleveland (via Illawarra) and Robert Franks (via Brisbane) to multi-year deals. Additionally, G-League star Craig Randall II (Long Island Nets) was brought in to add some offensive punch.

Their season got off to a promising start with a historic preseason win over the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, where Adelaide became the first overseas team to beat an NBA opponent since Fenerbahce’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets in 2015. Randall led the team in scoring with 35 points, setting the tone for what seemed to be a promising season. They also put up a competitive performance against Oklahoma City shortly after.

However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Returning to Australia, the 36ers, seen as championship contenders, stumbled to a 3–4 record in their first month of the regular season.

During this stretch, Randall II averaged 20.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals, but his on-court success was overshadowed by multiple verbal altercations with coach Bruton. After a disagreement regarding his role off the bench, Randall was released just six games into the season.

With Randall gone, Franks (17.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists) and Cleveland (15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 steals) took on more of the offensive load. However, Johnson (11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) recorded his lowest-scoring season in nearly a decade, and the 36ers faltered down the stretch, losing six of their final eight games and missing out on the Play-In tournament.

McCarron (7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.6 steals) and Drmic (10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) made solid contributions, while NBL Next Star Kai Sotto (6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds) flashed his NBA potential. Sotto’s production remained consistent with the previous year, though his minutes dropped from 15.2 to 12.9 per game.

Adelaide brought in former Sydney Kings star Ian Clark (12.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) mid-season to help make a final playoff push, but the move proved insufficient. The 36ers ended their campaign with a disappointing eighth-place finish and a 13-18 record.

Sotto’s best performance of the season came during a blowout loss to New Zealand (70-99), where he scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 14 minutes of court time, showcasing his potential but in a losing effort.

Kai Sotto played two seasons the Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 50 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (829 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.