Will Kai Sotto Finally Get Drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft? Here's What We Know

I remember the first time I saw Kai Sotto play—this lanky Filipino kid moving with a grace you don't often see in seven-footers. There was something special about his footwork, that soft touch around the rim that made you sit up and take notice. Now here we are, with the 2022 NBA Draft just around the corner, and everyone's asking the same question: will he finally hear his name called?

Let me be honest with you—I've been following international prospects for over a decade, and Kai's journey has been one of the most fascinating to watch. From his early days with Ateneo in the Philippines to his time in the NBA G League Ignite program, he's taken a path less traveled. The recent Adelaide 36ers game where they lost 86-70 tells an interesting story if you look beyond the final score. Those quarter breakdowns—18-12, 32-33, 63-49 before settling at 86-70—show how the game actually flowed. See, basketball isn't just about the final number. That first quarter where they only managed 12 points? That's where big men like Kai need to establish presence early. But then look at that second quarter—32-33—that's where things got competitive, where players make their case.

What really stands out to me is Kai's development curve. I've watched countless big men come through the draft process, and the ones who succeed often share certain traits. They've got either overwhelming physical dominance or incredible basketball IQ. Kai falls somewhere in between—he's got the height at 7'2", but it's his understanding of spacing and timing that could make him valuable to certain teams. Remember Yao Ming? Different caliber player entirely, but the international transition follows similar patterns. Teams aren't just drafting a player—they're drafting potential, they're projecting growth.

The numbers from that Adelaide game matter more than people realize. When your team scores 70 points total and you're looking at quarter splits of 18-12, 32-33, 63-49, 86-70, it tells me the offense struggled to find consistency. For a center like Kai, that means he's dealing with limited opportunities in a system that isn't always functioning smoothly. I've spoken with scouts who worry about his strength against NBA-level physicality, but others point to his mobility as exactly what modern basketball needs from a big man.

Here's what I think based on everything I've seen: Kai has about a 40% chance of getting drafted in the second round. There are teams like Oklahoma City or San Antonio that might take a flyer on him because they can afford to develop projects. His performance in the NBL showed flashes—that game where he blocked three shots in 22 minutes against Perth comes to mind. But consistency remains the issue. The draft is as much about fit as it is about talent, and Kai needs the right situation. A team with established veterans who can mentor him, a coaching staff patient enough to work through the growing pains.

I'll never forget talking to a former NBA general manager who told me the draft is part science, part gut feeling. With international prospects especially, teams are making educated guesses. They're looking at how players perform in different systems, how they adapt to various styles of play. Kai's experience across multiple leagues—from the Philippines to the G League to Australia—actually works in his favor here. He's been tested in different environments, which counts for more than people realize.

The reality is that only 60 players get drafted each year, and there are probably 85-90 legitimate prospects. Kai sits in that bubble group—talented enough to warrant consideration but not a sure thing. His camp has done smart things lately, having him work out for specific teams rather than participating in large combine settings. That targeted approach suggests they understand where his potential landing spots might be.

Looking at that 86-70 game again, what strikes me is how the third quarter swung things—63-49. That's when games often get decided, when rotations deepen and coaching adjustments take effect. For big men, that's when you see who can maintain intensity as minutes accumulate. The draft process is similar—it's not just about first impressions but sustained performance and improvement.

If I'm being completely transparent, part of me hopes he makes it simply because international basketball needs these success stories. The NBA has become truly global, and having a Filipino player break through would mean everything to basketball in that part of the world. But hope doesn't draft players—production and potential do. Teams will look at his 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in the NBL and wonder if that translates. They'll look at his 68% free throw percentage and assess his shooting touch. They'll study games like that 86-70 loss and see how he responded when things weren't going his team's way.

At the end of the day, the draft is about finding value where others don't see it. I've seen crazier things happen than Kai Sotto getting selected. Remember, Jokić was the 41st pick. Ginóbili went 57th. Sometimes the best finds are the ones that require a little imagination. So will he get drafted? My heart says I hope so, but my head says it's going to be close—probably right down to those final picks in the second round where teams are weighing risk versus reward. Whatever happens, his journey has already inspired a generation of Filipino kids to dream bigger, and sometimes that's just as important as hearing your name called on draft night.