

It’s exhilarating and exciting, and of course, everybody wants more. We’ve never had a player this close to making it to the best basketball league in the world. Whatever emotions and opinions came out from fans were warranted because this is new territory for Filipinos. In the end, the only person Sotto needs to prove something to is himself.Įven though it was just a preseason game, it was a glimpse of what it’s like to watch a Filipino player in the NBA.

After all, he just competed against some of the best players in the world. Probably all the talk and criticism is just a small price to pay. How did he fare against Ayton? Did he have the foot speed to defend an NBA pick-and-roll? Will his strength hold up against tougher and bigger foes? His shooting form seemed fine, right?

Every little detail will be dissected over and over. There will be plenty of discussions on whether or not he showed glimpses of what an NBA player should be. A dunk on one end would somehow be eclipsed by a defensive lap on the other end later on. But then you can also nitpick his defense or his speed. On one hand, it was dreamlike to watch a player that they watched up close in the Philippines now trying to stay in front of CP3, the Point God himself. As expected, it was a mixture of positive and negative posts. The Phoenix Suns odds to win the 2022/23 NBA Finals are +1200. People online, fans and critics alike, wasted no time making their comments known. Get the latest Suns odds, standings, and more and find all Suns bets on DraftKings. It’s easy to criticize, comment, and analyze the 20-year-old’s performance. It was Sotto’s first real taste of NBA action. Fortunately, his time abroad led him to this very unique opportunity wherein a guest team competed against the Suns in an exhibition game. He said he’ll continue to strive and make his NBA dream a reality. Sotto went undrafted in the recent NBA draft and decided to return to Australia to play for the 36ers. Kai Sotto dropping dimes for the 36ers 🏀 The official NBA Twitter account even posted his name and his sweet dish: The youngster stood out on the court with his 7-foot-3 frame as he got rebounds and scored a handful of baskets. He was trying to guard the pick-and-roll against Chris Paul. He was banging bodies with Deandre Ayton. Sotto ran up and down the Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Here’s a Filipino player, one of our own, playing inside an NBA arena and going up against NBA players. It was definitely a surreal moment watching Sotto play. Watch: #WeAreSixers #SwoopTheHoop /w0KYpsugsw- Adelaide 36ers October 3, 2022 He had a pair of dunks and also went a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. Sotto finished with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting from the field, including one 3-pointer, two rebounds, one assist, and two steals in nearly 18 minutes of action. The visiting team from Australia stunned the home team, 134-124. Yes, SeatGeek has parking tickets for Suns games here.Filipino fans were given a treat on Monday morning as Kai Sotto and the Adelaide 36ers faced off against the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game. Other legendary players to put on the Suns uniform were the great Charles Barkley, whose aggression and rebounding ability made things difficult for most opponents, as well as Kevin Johnson.Ĭan I buy prepaid parking for Phoenix Suns games? With the run and gun mentality of the Suns, compared to the methodical style of the Spurs, it was a true clash of styles on the grandest stages of the sport. That era of Suns basketball saw a rivalry develop with the San Antonio Spurs, who they went head-to-head with in the Western Conference playoffs. These teams were consistently in contention to win the Western Conference, and are credited by some with changing the sport of basketball into the perimeter-oriented game that followed. His desire was for the team to take a shot every seven seconds, to move with a fast pace, and to use big men as pick and roll players rather than stationary figures on the low block.įor the most part, it worked, with Steve Nash leading a team of ruthless perimeter threats and Amar'e Stoudemire being remembered for thunderous dunks as he fearlessly rolled to the basket. D'Antoni didn't believe in that strategy, and instead instituted a "seven seconds or less" offense to let the Suns play to their strengths. In the mid-2000s, centers were still a big part of NBA offenses with their backs to the basket. Perhaps the most exciting Suns team that has ever taken the floor was the team coached by Mike D'Antoni. With some iconic eras in franchise history led by players and coaches willing to push the envelope in the sport, it's hard to forget some of the contributions the team has made to the game.
PHOENIX SUNS SERIES
Brought into the NBA in 1968, the Phoenix Suns have been bringing basketball to the desert with a series of unique styles and legendary players teaming up to create an appealing team.
