LAS VEGAS - From the 13 minutes and 23 seconds he gave Kai Sotto in Orlando's NBA Summer League game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday (Friday, Manila time), one thing stood out in Magic coach Dylan Murphy's mind.
"He protected the rim really well with a couple of block shots, nice finishes," Murphy, an Orlando deputy who also coaches the franchise's G League affiliate, told SPIN,ph after Sotto's Summer League debut at the Thomas & Mack Center.
READ: Kai starts tentatively, finishes strong in Magic debut
Sotto, 21, made the most of his minutes on the floor in his first taste of action after sitting out the Magic's first three games as a DNP-CD (Did Not Play-Coach's Decision), finishing with six points and four rebounds in the Magic's 88-71 loss to the Blazers.
But it was three shotblocks that obviously registered in the mind of Murphy, who also praised the 7-3 hopeful for staying positive despite the benching.
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"Credit to him for staying ready and being able to perform, that's not always the easiest thing [after the DNPs]," said the Magic coach. "He has a great attitude, a hard worker, so he did well today for sure."
Murphy, however, offered no guarantees on whether Sotto will be tapped to see action in the Magic's final Summer League game on Saturday (Sunday, 6:30 a.m., Manila time) against the Boston Celtics - or a possible roster spot with the NBA team.
"We'll make that decision here in a day or so, but definitely proud of his performance and thought he did well," he said ahead of the Magic-Celtics game. Roster spots, he added, are "for the front office to decide."
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