Rival coach crowns Wildcats star Cotton NBL's greatest import

Perth Wildcats superstar Bryce Cotton has been hailed as the best foreigner to ever play in the NBL after yet another clutch performance from the reigning league MVP.

NBL Rd 10 - Perth v Adelaide

Bryce Cotton drives to the basket Source: Getty Images

Every game of the 2020-21 NBL season is LIVE, FREE, and HD via SBS On Demand, with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.

Cotton scored 36 points in Perth’s 92-82 win against the Adelaide 36ers on Monday night as the Wildcats furthered their lead at the top of the NBL ladder.

The Arizona native is in sensational scoring touch averaging a league-high 26 points per game this campaign, with Adelaide coach Conner Henry claiming Cotton’s incredible form during his five seasons Down Under surpasses all those who have gone before him.
“He’s the best import not only in this league, but he’s also the best import to ever play in this league,” Henry stated.

“The Wildcats system utilises his pace and his ability to free himself, which makes him so difficult for the opposition to cover.

“This isn’t just him putting together a few 30 point games. This is an exceptional talent who fits the system perfectly and is very hard to stop.”

Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson admitted he is no longer surprised by what his 28-year-old shooting guard can do.

“I don't want to sound ungrateful, but you kind of get used to it, don’t you because he performs at such a high level all the time,” Gleeson said.

“He raises everyone’s performance on the court. He’s just a joy to watch when he gets going.”

This weekend Cotton will take on arguably his biggest individual rival in Casper Ware when the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings clash in a grand final rematch at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.

The two sides have only met once this season, with Perth edging Sydney 113-106 as Ware (34) and Cotton (30) top-scored for their team in what was a thrilling clash of the two superstars.

Sydney comes into the contest riding high after back-to-back wins, which lifts them above .500 for the first time this season.
We’re trying to hit our momentum now, especially with the home games we’ve got coming up,” Kings head coach Adam Forde said.

“This is a fork-in-the-road moment for us in the sense we can either continue our form and rise, or we stay with this ‘win one, lose one, win one, lose one and we miss the finals.”

The Kings sit in sixth position going into round 11 with nine wins and eight losses from their 17 matches.

You can catch all the action from the blockbuster NBL grand final rematch between Sydney Kings and Perth Wildcats this Sunday from 3 pm (AEDT) Sunday LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed on SBS On Demand.


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3 min read
Published 23 March 2021 8:41pm
By Nick Houghton


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