Kai Sotto tipped to make NBL debut on December 3 as Adelaide battles Tasmania

Kai Sotto's much-awaited professional debut is tipped to begin on December 3, when the Adelaide 36ers square off against the debuting Tasmania JackJumpers in the 2021-2022 National Basketball League (NBL).

The league recently announced the new schedule after it had decided to push back the season opener from its original date of November 18 due to the challenges brought by the ongoing COVID-19.

“While it’s only a few weeks later than we originally planned, the new start date gives us a greater level of comfort and flexibility as we navigate through the current environment and prioritise having our growing number of fans courtside around the country and in New Zealand,” NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said in a statement.

Loeliger stressed they moved the opener to a later date in order to allow fans to watch their team's games live from the venues.

“The NBL is a fan-first product and playing in front of crowds is vital for the league and our clubs. Giving supporters an even better chance of seeing their teams compete at home was a key driver in moving things back slightly and in how we’ve structured the schedule.”

Adelaide will open the season away at the MyState Bank Arena in Hobart before hosting the Brisbane Bullets at home at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on December 5.

—JMB, GMA News