NBA hopeful Kai Sotto has now been benched twice for the Orlando Magic during the NBA Summer League. Fans are frustrated with his treatment.
During Monday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic coach Dylan Murphy gave 11 players minutes, The Manilla Times reports. But none of those 11 players were Sotto.
The 7-foot-3 center grew up in the Philippines, playing for his high school’s junior basketball program: the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in Quezon City. In 2019, Sotto moved to the United States and joined the Skills Factory in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 21-year-old declared for the 2022 NBA draft but went undrafted. In February 2023, he signed with Hiroshima Dragonflies of the Japanese B.League. A few months later, in June, Sotto received an invite from the Orlando Magic to play for their summer league team, Spin reports.
Sotto’s signing was met with excitement, especially from the AAPI community. But now fans are frustrated that Sotto did not play. A video captured by RAIN Sports showed fans during Monday night’s game chanting, “We want Sotto.”
WE WANT SOTTO CHANT @OrlandoMagic #kaisotto KAI SOTTO pic.twitter.com/bdGbJiTHDw
— RAIN Sports (@RAINSportsph) July 11, 2023
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Fans on Twitter have also accused the Orlando Magic and the NBA of using Sotto for “clout.”
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