Jalen Green has faced Kai Sotto a couple of times during the last two editions of the Chooks-to-Go National Basketball Training Center National Finals.
But this year, they won’t be wearing different colors as they are set to be teammates in the G League’s elite team.
And the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup MVP shared that he and Sotto have a good off-court relationship that will translate on the court as well.
“Me and Kai, we have a good relationship. I talked to him a couple of times in the Philippines,” Green shared during the NBA Republika Playoffs online media availability Thursday.
“We’re playing against each other so we don’t really talk that much but he knows we’re brothers off the court.”
Green was 2-0 against Sotto during the NBTC and had a couple of highlight dunks over the 7-foot-2 prospect.
When Sotto arrived in Atlanta and train under East West Private, Green made sure to drop him a text.
“He went to Atlanta, came to the States and working out and I told him, ‘I hope you’re doing good, I hope you’re getting better at stuff.’ And when he got to the G League, I told him congrats, can’t wait to be your teammate and I’m excited to play with you and represent the Philippines.”
Green and Sotto also share the same agent in Aaron Goodwin.
Being seen as the leader of the young group that will compete in the G League, Green vows to lead by example. Moreover, he and his good pal Sotto plan to represent the flag well as well.
“I expect everyone to come to the gym everyday and work their best out because these are high school elite players who chose this route to get to the NBA. There can’t be slack, there can’t be day-offs, I expect everyone to come to the gym looking to get better everyday. And at the same time, we have to build chemistry because if we want to go on the court and play, we got to be on the same page,” the 18-year-old Fil-Am stressed.
“Kai’s a great player. I think he can be good and we’ll be really great together. Other than that, we got to represent the Philippines so it’s gonna be exciting.”
