Greatest Wildcat debate settled?

Saturday, July 29, 2023

"He is absolutely unbelievable to watch. I’ve never seen someone have a struggling first three quarters and then explode when the game is on the line."

The mark Bryce Cotton has stamped on the NBL will be felt for generations. The three-time MVP has already catapulted his name to sit comfortably among the top players in the history of the competition.

His resume reads like an essay. Along with those three MVP awards he’s a three-time champion, two-time Larry Sengstock Medal winner, six-time scoring leader and six-time All-NBL First Team nominee.

Such is his greatness, Cotton is inevitably included in the hotly-debated conversation surrounding who the greatest Wildcat – and the greatest NBL import – in history is.

In both debates one name consistently rises alongside Cotton’s - that of Ricky Grace.

The Dallas-born import spent 15 years playing for the Wildcats and retired as a four-time champion, two-time MVP and has had his jersey retired by the club.

The naturalised Australian also represented his adopted nation at the 2000 Olympics.

Paul Rogers sits comfortably in Cotton’s realm as one of the greatest Wildcats ever. The now 49-year-old played in two titles for the Wildcats and was named as the NBL MVP in 2000.

As well as playing alongside Grace at the Wildcats, Rogers also represented Australia alongside him at the Sydney Olympics.

Speaking after his induction into the West Australian Basketball Hall of Fame, Rogers weighed in on the debate of who is the greatest ever Wildcat.

“It pains me to say, but he’s the greatest Wildcat ever,” Rogers said of Cotton on SEN. “I’m the number one ticket holder of the Ricky Grace fan club and it’s hard to compare the two, but Bryce is just in a league of his own.

“I just think it’s unfortunate that he’s not playing and dominating in the NBA.

“I know he’s not the tallest and his defence is not something he’s renowned for – but he’s still a great defender. I think there’s plenty of players in the NBA that he’s a lot better than.

“He is absolutely unbelievable to watch. I’ve never seen someone have a struggling first three quarters and then explode when the game is on the line.”

Perth’s opening game of the NBL24 season is set for Friday, September 29 against the Tasmania JackJumpers.