LOS Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy is convinced the long-cherished dream of center Kai Sotto to become the first homegrown Filipino to gain NBA foothold is within reach.
“I believe he’s very talented. I don’t believe in putting timelines on athletes,” Handy said last Monday at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. “I’ve had a chance to see him play for a couple of years. He’s naturally gifted.
“He spent some time down in Australia and that really helped develop his game,” he added.
Handy, 51, is in Manila to conduct basketball clinics and share his wealth of knowledge with elite local school teams and the pro league’s Converge team.
Born in San Leandro, California and raised in Hayward-Union City, Handy is a three-time NBA champion as an assistant tactician, having won titles while serving as deputy of the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), Toronto Raptors (2019), and the Lakers (2020).
Handy has coached the great late Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto has what it takes to make it to the NBA and it’s just a matter of when it will be, according to Handy.
“It could be this summer. It could be next year. It really depends on the opportunity,” Handy said. “Sometimes, players’ opportunities come at different times.
“The advice I would give Kai is to keep working, keep playing, and keep being ready for the opportunity.”
Sotto, 21, is awaiting invitations to suit up in the NBA Summer League after seeing action in mini camps by the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and the New York Knicks.
Handy said he will cherish his stay in Manila and the experience he will have in teaching the sport Filipinos treat as a religion.
“I really just, just getting a real feel for Filipino culture. I grew up in a community, but if you touch down in the Philippines and have a chance to be here, I’ve always heard great things about it. Just getting a chance to experience the culture, and the food and then just having the opportunity to dive into the basketball community, I’m really excited about all those things,” he said. “I just love the game of basketball so anyway I can share that information, share my experiences with coaches and players, there is no corner of the earth we won’t go to do it and that’s what drives me really.
“Just being able to help the game of basketball continue to be in a healthy place all over the world. So, this is the first stop. . . and I’m glad it’s in the Philippines.”
