Much improved Kai Sotto needs to work on defensive skills, says TNT's Dickel | ABS-CBN
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Much improved Kai Sotto needs to work on defensive skills, says TNT's Dickel
Much improved Kai Sotto needs to work on defensive skills, says TNT's Dickel
Camille B. Naredo,
ABS-CBN News
Published May 18, 2020 03:48 PM PHT
MANILA, Philippines -- Mark Dickel has seen firsthand how much Kai Sotto has improved over the past couple of years, and believes that the young Filipino center is a "super talent."
MANILA, Philippines -- Mark Dickel has seen firsthand how much Kai Sotto has improved over the past couple of years, and believes that the young Filipino center is a "super talent."
However, the TNT active consultant was also quite realistic when asked about Sotto's decision to skip college and instead play for the NBA G League Select Team during a recent online coaching seminar.
However, the TNT active consultant was also quite realistic when asked about Sotto's decision to skip college and instead play for the NBA G League Select Team during a recent online coaching seminar.
"I think he's improved a lot in the past year… I think he's a super talent," Dickel said of Sotto, who at 18 years old already stands 7-foot-2. "It's just hard to know what the right way to go is."
"I think he's improved a lot in the past year… I think he's a super talent," Dickel said of Sotto, who at 18 years old already stands 7-foot-2. "It's just hard to know what the right way to go is."
Sotto took a big step towards becoming the first homegrown Filipino player to make it to the NBA when he decided to go to the G League, a decision that was made official last week.
Sotto took a big step towards becoming the first homegrown Filipino player to make it to the NBA when he decided to go to the G League, a decision that was made official last week.
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In the G League, Sotto will have access to top-level coaching on the court and life skills training off it. He will get to play with some of the top prospects in the United States, including Jalen Green, a guard of Filipino descent who is tabbed as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick. Their team will play against other G League squads, as well as foreign national teams and NBA academy teams.
In the G League, Sotto will have access to top-level coaching on the court and life skills training off it. He will get to play with some of the top prospects in the United States, including Jalen Green, a guard of Filipino descent who is tabbed as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick. Their team will play against other G League squads, as well as foreign national teams and NBA academy teams.
Sotto explained that the exposure that he will get in the G League was a major factor in his decision. Dickel, who played collegiate basketball for University of Nevada Las Vegas, made no judgment as to whether Sotto made the right choice or not, but he warned that the Filipino teenager has a steep learning curve ahead of him.
Sotto explained that the exposure that he will get in the G League was a major factor in his decision. Dickel, who played collegiate basketball for University of Nevada Las Vegas, made no judgment as to whether Sotto made the right choice or not, but he warned that the Filipino teenager has a steep learning curve ahead of him.
"You're 7-foot-2, and your best attribute is you're a great passer. That can work, especially if you can shoot the ball, which he's shown the ability to be able to shoot the ball," Dickel said of Sotto.
"You're 7-foot-2, and your best attribute is you're a great passer. That can work, especially if you can shoot the ball, which he's shown the ability to be able to shoot the ball," Dickel said of Sotto.
"But the game's changing all the time," he also warned. "So you know, he's gonna have to be able to stretch the ball out to the 3-point line, and he's gonna have to be able to guard screen-and-rolls really well in order for him to make the NBA, or be an NBA prospect."
"But the game's changing all the time," he also warned. "So you know, he's gonna have to be able to stretch the ball out to the 3-point line, and he's gonna have to be able to guard screen-and-rolls really well in order for him to make the NBA, or be an NBA prospect."
Dickel is confident that Sotto should have no problem in scoring, even at the NBA level. He predicts that in three or four years' time, Sotto "is gonna be a good enough player to be able to give every team anywhere in the world problems."
Dickel is confident that Sotto should have no problem in scoring, even at the NBA level. He predicts that in three or four years' time, Sotto "is gonna be a good enough player to be able to give every team anywhere in the world problems."
It is on the defensive end of the floor that Sotto needs more work, according to the coach, especially when it comes to the NBA. Dickel explained that guarding screen-and-rolls is "the hardest thing for big guys to learn," and Sotto has to focus on figuring that out if he hopes to make it all the way to the biggest basketball league in the world.
It is on the defensive end of the floor that Sotto needs more work, according to the coach, especially when it comes to the NBA. Dickel explained that guarding screen-and-rolls is "the hardest thing for big guys to learn," and Sotto has to focus on figuring that out if he hopes to make it all the way to the biggest basketball league in the world.
"If your goal is the NBA right now, his match-ups are who? Who's his match-up? He's gonna guard (Kristaps) Porzingis, right? So, you start looking at NBA players, and how do you guard them?" said Dickel.
"If your goal is the NBA right now, his match-ups are who? Who's his match-up? He's gonna guard (Kristaps) Porzingis, right? So, you start looking at NBA players, and how do you guard them?" said Dickel.
"Look, he can work on his agility if he can work on his strength a little bit, if he can work on his quickness, if he can really work on guarding screen-and-rolls, because in the NBA that's all there is. Screen and roll, screen and roll, screen and roll," he added.
"Look, he can work on his agility if he can work on his strength a little bit, if he can work on his quickness, if he can really work on guarding screen-and-rolls, because in the NBA that's all there is. Screen and roll, screen and roll, screen and roll," he added.
"So, how (is Kai) gonna get really, really good at doing that? If he can, then there's a role for him in the NBA."
"So, how (is Kai) gonna get really, really good at doing that? If he can, then there's a role for him in the NBA."
The good news is that Sotto is well aware of the work that he needs to do to make it to the NBA.
The good news is that Sotto is well aware of the work that he needs to do to make it to the NBA.
In a conference call last week, he was asked what he needed to work on the most when it comes to his game, and Sotto quickly answered "Defense."
In a conference call last week, he was asked what he needed to work on the most when it comes to his game, and Sotto quickly answered "Defense."
"I want to get better defensively," Sotto had said. "'Pag naging magaling na defensive player ako, ibig sabihin noon, lumakas ako at bumilis ako. Marami akong kayang gawin, just by playing defense."
"I want to get better defensively," Sotto had said. "'Pag naging magaling na defensive player ako, ibig sabihin noon, lumakas ako at bumilis ako. Marami akong kayang gawin, just by playing defense."
(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).
(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).
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