NBL Team Overview: Perth Wildcats
THE upcoming season of the National Basketball League (NBL) is just around the corner, with the season opener slated for the 2nd of December. As the NBL Blitz pre-season campaign comes to a close, sides across the league will be finalising their preparations for their NBL22 campaigns. With that said, it is time for us to take one final look at each team, and how they are faring heading into the upcoming season. Next to be placed under the microscope are the Perth Wildcats, who will be looking to bounce back from last year’s grand final defeat to place themselves back on the winner’s list.
Perth Wildcats
Ins: Jack Purchase, Kyle Zunic, Matt Hodgson, Michael Frazier, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Victor Law
Captain: Todd Blanchfield
Coach: Scott Morrison
Record last season: 25-11 (2nd)
Roster:
Jack Purchase
Kyle Zunic
Matt Hodgson
Michael Frazier
Oliver Hayes-Brown
Todd Blanchfield
Victor Law
It was a heartbreaking finish to last season for the Wildcats, who were ultimately bested by the stronger team, with Melbourne United one step ahead of them all season, including in the grand final series. The offseason saw a changing of the guard, with legendary head coach Trevor Gleeson departing for the NBA. Taking over the reigns is Canadian Morrison, who joins the side following a stint with the Boston Celtics.
The side will be thrilled to regain Cotton and Majok from injury, while welcoming the additions of players such as Purchase and Law. They did lose some key personnel to free agency, while Norton and Blanchfield ruled out for months with serious knee injuries. However despite these challenges, it seems near impossible to rule out the franchise that has produced so much success in the last decade. If anyone can overcome these obstacles, it is the Wildcats.
Perth adds pinch of Pepper with latest signing
ONE of the most exciting aspects of the National Basketball League (NBL) off-season is the addition of young talent to Australia’s premier competition, with Elijah Pepper the next rising Aussie to put pen to paper. Following an outstanding collegiate career, Pepper has agreed to a two-year deal with the Perth Wildcats ahead of the 2024/25 […]
2023/24 NBL Team Wrap – Perth Wildcats
THE 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) season was one of the most entertaining in recent memory, with all teams performing at a high level and making a genuine run at some postseason action along the way. All 10 teams were in the hunt for a spot in the finals and play-in until the penultimate round, […]
Battle of the Bass Strait as Melbourne and Tassie advance
THE biggest night in recent memory in the National Basketball League (NBL) lived up to the hype, with Melbourne United and the Tasmania JackJumpers booking a spot in the deciding series after claiming wins in their respective game threes. Both semi-final series went to deciding games, which took place in consecutive fashion in a massive […]
PREVIEW | NBL Semi-Final Game Threes
THERE has not been much more excitement surrounding one night of National Basketball League (NBL) action in the 2023/24 season, with two semi-final deciders set to take place in consecutive fashion on Wednesday. Both penultimate series were tied in the second game, delivering an exciting night which will see both grand finalists determined. With unpredictable […]
Decider double locked in as Jackies force game three
PERHAPS the most exciting night of action in the 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) season looms on Wednesday, with back-to-back game threes after the Tasmania JackJumpers defeated the Illawarra Hawks to keep the semi-final series alive. After falling by eight points in game one, the JackJumpers needed to win at MyState Bank Arena on Monday […]
Pinder powers Perth past JackJumpers in game one
A BLISTERING shooting performance from big man Keanu Pinder helped the Perth Wildcats to an eight-point win over the Tasmania JackJumpers in game one of their semi-final series at RAC Arena on Friday night. With many of his teammates struggling to make an impact on the offensive end, Pinder was the difference, knocking down timely […]
PREVIEW | Semi-final 2 – Perth Wildcats vs. Tasmania JackJumpers
THE second semi-final in the 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) season kick off tonight, with the Perth Wildcats and Tasmania JackJumpers set to lock horns in a best-of-three series. The Wildcats and JackJumpers entered the postseason as the second and third ranked sides respectively, and the latter had no issues making it through the play-in, […]
NBL | Stats Central – Round 20
THE National Basketball League (NBL) wrapped up the action for the 2023/24 season over the weekend, with the top six locked in, while the remaining teams were forced to settle with an earlier finish. After some massive matchups in the final weekend of the season, the big guns delivered both with impact and statistics as […]
NBL | Ones to Watch – Round 20
AFTER one of the most exciting fixtures in the modern era, the 2023/24 National Basketball League (NBL) season is set to come to an end over the weekend, but the action is far from done. Despite there being just one round remaining, the race for the finals is far from over, with three sides looking […]
