The G League Ignite announced that Filipino prospect Kai Sotto will not return to the team.
With the team's permission, the 18-year-old centre had left the Ignite in January to train with the Philippines National Team in hopes of representing his country at the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifying Tournament in Qatar before that event was cancelled.
When Sotto had yet to return to the Ignite for their start of the season in the G League bubble in Orlando, questions were raised if the international prospect would return. On Tuesday, the Ignite announced they came to a "mutual decision" that Sotto would not rejoin the team.
"Kai and the team both understood the challenges for him to rejoin Ignite given the current international travel constraints, quarantine times and health and safety protocols,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “Kai will always be part of the extended Ignite family and we wish him continued success as he pursues his NBA dreams.”
The Ignite have a solid 5-3 record through the midway point of the G League bubble season with top prospects Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga leading the way. Green is averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals while Kuminga is right behind his counterpart with 16.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.