Wells draws Bryce comparisons with MJ

Bryce Cotton received the ultimate praise from his rival coach as the Perth Wildcats superstar delivered another match-winning performance but his own coach says Bryce Cotton is just being the best Bryce Cotton.

The Adelaide 36ers have done well against most fellow top six teams this season. They are 3-0 against the Illawarra Hawks while winning their last game by 19 points over Melbourne United and winning three straight over the Sydney Kings.

It's been the Wildcats that the Sixers haven’t been able to conquer having lost all four encounters to them this season, following Friday night's win for Perth 112-104 in front of a jam packed 13,559 RAC Arena crowd.

The biggest factor in that is Cotton averaging 35.3 points and 7.5 assists across those four games including two 49-point outbursts with the latest on Friday.

Cotton finished with not only the 49 points but also seven assists and three rebounds while knocking down 9/18 from three-point territory and 10/11 at the foul line.

Wells might be new to the NBL this season, but Cotton is one familiar face to him given the pair had an assistant coach-player relationship dating back to the Utah Jazz.

To see what Cotton has become in the NBL and surely about to become a five-time MVP across what 254 games, Wells likens his unstoppability to what Michael Jordan was like in the NBA.

"I say this with a tonne of respect for everybody but I'm probably the only guy who has been in games as a coach against Michael Jordan as well," Wells said.

"Bryce in a lot of ways out here reminds me of him with the way he plays and the things he can do. The way he turns it on is really unique and I have tonnes of respect for him.

"I felt like I was around him as a young guy way back with the Utah Jazz when I was with us for a little while so to see where his career is and the things that he does, and his level of competition, hats off to him."

Following the win that sees the Wildcats at least secure third position and a home Play-In Game and still a chance of finishing second, Rillie didn’t want to get caught up on Cotton comparisons.

He's just happy when he's feeling it like he was with 31 second-half points to not get in his superstar's way.

"Bryce Cotton is Bryce Cotton and he's trying to be the best of himself. The dedication, the way he applies it every day is what allows him to have the success that he has," Rillie said.

"Then as coaches when someone gets in the zone like that, you need to stay out of the way.

"So when I feel that with the way he's playing, I just sit there and watch and admire because there's only so many chances and opportunities you get to see someone perform at that level.

"He's produced five, six of those types of performances in one year, it's pretty special."

Cotton appreciated the words from Wells post-match along with being able to reflect on another battle with Adelaide guard Kendric Davis.

Davis had another 34 points and eight assists on the same night Cotton put up 49 and seven with the pair showing why they are the more than likely first and second MVP place getters.

"It's pretty cool and shoutout to Mike, but I just go out there to play the game from my heart like I have from ever since I was a kid. It's good to be respected by your peers and the coaches you play against though," Cotton said.

"I haven’t thought too much about it and I never count my chickens before they hatch but it's an honour to be in this conversation again.

"I feel that me and Kendric have had historic seasons together, and I think some of the numbers that we've put up the NBL hasn’t seen this in the 40-minute era and for a long time.

"With us competing it's been great and this is the most talented era the league's ever seen so I always thrive competing against the league's best."

With Kristian Doolittle, Dylan Windler and Tai Webster all now back in the line-up and firing, the Wildcats are at full strength and in impressive form to finish the regular season at 18-11.

Perth will likely finish third and host the South East Melbourne Phoenix in a Play-In Game but there's still a chance should that same Phoenix team beat Melbourne by 18 or more points to close the season that the Wildcats replace United in second.

All Cotton is worried about is how good he feels his team is going entering the post-season.

"Going into these playoffs I'm happy that everybody's healthy and I think that's huge for us," Cotton said.

"We didn’t play a whole lot of games at full strength so I guess this is as good a time as any to have a healthy team. I'm feeling pretty happy about that."