After not being able to get drafted in the National Basketball Association draft on Friday morning (Manila time), Kai Sotto received valuable advice from a guy who had been in the same situation before.
In an interview with ESPN Asia, Jeremy Lin shared that the NBA Draft was just one way for a prospect to enter the big league.
It’s just the start of a long journey — whether you get called by the commissioner or not.
As 🇵🇭 Philippine prospect @kzsottolive went undrafted on Thursday night, 2019 @NBA champion @JLin7 – a man who is no stranger to similar disappointment – urges the 20-year-old to keep believing in himself. #NBA #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/zXXAjM53tU
— ESPN Asia (@ESPNAsia) June 24, 2022
“Maybe I’m biased, but I just don’t feel like the draft night is that, like, because there are so many people that get drafted and fall off, and there are so many people that go undrafted and go in,” Lin said.
He also mentioned that what happened today at the draft is not the basis for where the 20-year-old Filipino will end up in the future.
Lin is living proof of that sentiment as he had the same path on his way to the big league.
The Taiwanese-American went undrafted in 2010 before he was given a huge break a year later by the New York Knicks. It has been well-documented that he was sleeping on his teammate’s couch during the time he was given a 10-day contract by the Knicks.
Lin made sure to seize the moment afterward.
During his magical run that gave rise to ‘Linsanity’, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists in 12 starts.
In 2012, the Asian phenom went to H-town to have a much bigger role for the Rockets who had a strong chance of contending at the time.
Since then, the Harvard alumnus found himself hopping onto different NBA teams before he got his first-ever championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.
Lin had a chance to get to know Sotto during the latter’s short time with G League Ignite.
Now on separate paths, the now 33-year-old Lin hoped that the 7-foot-3 big man would continue doing what he needed to do in order for him to achieve his biggest goal — to make it to the NBA.
“I’ve met Kai. I’ve played against Kai, I’ve played with Kai. Like, you know, during the G League Ignite team, I had spent a couple of days with them, so I’m rooting for them too,” said Lin.
Lin also tells Sotto that having a non-traditional road to the NBA is not something to worry about as he assured the former 36er that he will eventually find a home if he continues to work on his game.
“I would also say, ‘Hey it’s okay because you know who you are as a player and maybe if you just continue to show them over time, you will find a home and that’s the biggest thing’,” Lin said.
“Draft night is just one snapshot in a very long film.
“I just hope that he continues to believe in himself, stay confident, keep working hard, and just trust that as long I stay consistent, I will find a home,” he added.
Moments after the draft, Sotto shared that no decision has been made yet regarding him playing in the NBA Summer League.
