JERSEY CITY, New Jersey – Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley dropped a piece of
advice to Kai Sotto and the rest of their Summer League team rookies navigating their
NBA journey.
“Just go out and be yourself,” Mosley told reporters on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time)
after the second day of practice run by his assistant and Osceola Magic coach Dylan
Murphy.
The 21-year-old Sotto is one of the 15 rookies in the 22-man Magic Summer League
team.
“Don’t try to do things that you’re not capable of doing,” Mosley added. “Do what you’re
best capable of doing. And I think the more you try to do something you’re not, the more
you get exposed. So just enjoy the journey. Enjoy the process, but be a sponge every
single day.”
The Magic Summer League team started their practice Sunday (Monday in Manila) at
the state-of-the-art AdventHealth Training Center, just one block from their arena,
Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto is the tallest player on the Magic Summer League roster and second
tallest next to No. 1 pick 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs in the
Las Vegas tournament, which will run from July 7 to 17.
Mosley said their focus in their practices is to help the likes of Sotto and the rest of the
newcomers, particularly their lottery picks — Anthony Black and Jett Howard — to get
acclimated to the NBA’s speed, officiating and style of play.
“They’re just soaking everything up that the coaches are teaching, and the coaches are
doing a phenomenal job of breaking down things to the slowest level that it can be. So,
they’re able to adjust to the game the right way,” Mosley said.
Mosley, who piloted the Magic to a 12-win improvement last season from his rookie
year as NBA head coach, is known for his player development and defensive acumen
way back to his assistant coaching days in Dallas, where he and Sotto’s agent Tony
Ronzone of Wasserman Sports, formerly Mavericks Director of Player Personnel,
worked together.
Mosley also credited second-year players Caleb Houstan and Kevon Harris and five-
year veteran DJ Wilson for teaching the likes of Sotto the ropes and what to expect in
the Summer League.
“It’s great for them to learn from these guys, and they’re all willing teachers. I think the
great part about that with young guys is just helping them start their journey,” Mosely
said.
Sotto and the rest of the Magic squad will fly to Las Vegas on Wednesday (Thursday
Manila time) and continue to train there before their Summer League debut against the
Detroit Pistons on Saturday (Sunday Manila time). (A. Almo, PS