36ers Challenge Sotto: 'Give Us More'

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Kai Sotto has been issued a challenge by Adelaide 36ers head coach CJ Bruton

By Dan Woods - NBL Media

Kai Sotto has been issued a challenge by Adelaide 36ers head coach CJ Bruton, who has called on the young Filipino star to “give a little more” to his side.

After arriving in Adelaide on the eve of last season to much fanfare, injury saw Sotto struggle for minutes early in the campaign, before an extended run in the side saw him showcase his talents towards the end of the 2021/2022 campaign.

The 36ers are, on paper, much improved as they head into the new season, and Bruton has issued a similar challenge to all of his young stars ahead of the new season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">KAI is YOUR GUY!<br><br>HUGE congratulations to one of the BIGGEST fan favourites the NBL has ever seen, the winner of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP award, Kai Sotto from the <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a> ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheGazeys?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheGazeys</a> live on ESPN + the NBL social channels ? <a href="https://t.co/aFOwDwKQ2g">pic.twitter.com/aFOwDwKQ2g</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1519242974227734530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“There’s certain things I’m not just gifting a kid because his social media account says he’s very high on the totem pole. We have a job to do and our league is very powerful,” Bruton said on the Ball and the Real World podcast.

“As I’ve told him there’s a work-rate that’s needed to be successful not only in our competition, but around the world.

“Every player’s in that boat of wanting to play more and win more games … [but] if you don’t give me that every single day or fit in with the group or understand or talk more, then how can I give more if you don’t give a little more?

“There’s that give and take with a lot of our young players. Our bench was young, they’re very talkative when they’re together … when we were rolling it was good, but when it was going the other way it was very quiet.

“With Kai, he’s still young and right now he’s with the Filipino national team, they’re excited to have him and I’m excited to watch him … we want him to play well and we’re looking forward to seeing him hit the floor for his national team.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We see you Kai Sotto! ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/basketballnationph?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#basketballnationph</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KaiSotto?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KaiSotto</a> <a href="https://t.co/T0E6qERePt">pic.twitter.com/T0E6qERePt</a></p>— Basketball Nation PH (@basket_nationph) <a href="https://twitter.com/basket_nationph/status/1559773918348869632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sotto is returning to the 36ers for his sophomore campaign in the NBL, after missing out on getting picked up in the recent NBA Draft.

Projected as a potential second round pick ahead of the event, Sotto overlooked in his bid to join fellow NBL stars Ousmane Dieng, Luke Travers and Hugo Besson in finding a home in the biggest league in the world.

With the number of players with links to the NBL now plying their trade in the NBA, Bruton says Sotto not being drafted certainly doesn’t mark the end of his NBA aspirations.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it, I love the kid and I want him to be here,” Bruton said.

“I sent a message to him when he didn’t get drafted that night. I know everyone feels sad for him, but that’s not the only way into the NBA – (former Melbourne United forward) Jack White is in the NBA right now and he didn’t get drafted.

“I know people want to see players going through these certain channels and kick in these doors, [but] there are many ways to get there now.

“Right now it’s about him continuing to grow and put his best foot forward and helping us be successful.”

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Sotto will return to Adelaide to battle for minutes, alongside the likes of NBL veteran Daniel Johnson and new recruits Kyrin Galloway and Deng Acuoth.

While there were initially murmurs Sotto wouldn’t be returning to Adelaide, Bruton had always been planning his roster around him playing a potentially key role in the side – assuming he performs.

“When I was putting it together I planned on having him back and growing his role a little more … there was a lot of conversation between myself, our CEO and his team. It took a while to get across the line but everything was in the best interests of Kai Sotto,” Bruton said.

“There’ll be some tight battles – I’m not gifting anyone ‘you’re starting, you’re here’ … ultimately everyone’s in here to compete and play well, and for us to be successful we need everyone at an elite level.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a season-high 21 points, CJ Bruton sees big things in Kai Sotto's future ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kzsottolive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kzsottolive</a> <a href="https://t.co/E2x6yELsaE">pic.twitter.com/E2x6yELsaE</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1513488346244268033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>