NICKNAME/S: Nerd

BIO: Born and raised in Canberra (ACT), Jesse Kendall James Wagstaff attended Radford College before accepting a scholarship to attend the ACT Academy of Sport.

Wagstaff is one of only 7 players who played 15 seasons with one NBL team. Tom Abercrombie, Mat Campbell, Brett Maher, Andrew Gaze, Ricky Grace and Mark Davis being the only other players to achieve the feat.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jesse Wagstaff made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 23 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.

Coming out of college, Wagstaff was set to sign with the South Dragons, the reigning NBL champions. After the team folded in May 2009, he had a one-game stint in the SEABL with the Canberra Gunners before signing a two-year deal with the Perth Wildcats in June 2009.

Following the departures of Peter Crawford, Ben Knight, Alex Loughton, Chris Goulding, Darnell Hinson and Isiah Victor, Perth entered the off-season with its future uncertain, coming within weeks of folding unless the club could raise one million dollars in sponsorship. The NBL was facing similar financial problems, and the Wildcats worked alongside the remaining clubs to help reform the competition before the 2009/10 season was given the green light.

Coming out of Metro State, Jesse Wagstaff (via Canberra) had been preparing to join reigning champions South Dragons before the club folded in May 2009. After playing one game with the Canberra Gunners, the 23-year-old forward signed a two-year deal with Perth in June.

The Wildcats appointed Rob Beveridge as head coach and retained Shawn Redhage, Stephen Weigh, Brad Robbins and Paul Rogers, while Damian Martin (via Sydney), Drew Williamson (via Townsville), Luke Schenscher (via Adelaide), Martin Cattalini (via Cairns) and import Kevin Lisch were added to the roster. Rogers handed the captaincy to Redhage before an elbow and triceps injury suffered in Perth’s second game ended his season and ultimately his playing career, with import Galen Young signed as his replacement.

Perth opened the season in Wollongong, where the rookie (10 points in 14 minutes) made an immediate impact off the bench, but Tywain McKee (22 points and 7 assists) led the Hawks to a 94-92 win.

Wagstaff (9 points and 3.6 rebounds across 33 games) benefitted from the increased opportunities created by Rogers’ absence, earning regular minutes in the frontcourt and becoming an important scorer off Beveridge’s bench.

Redhage (15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds across 33 games) and Lisch (12.1 points across 33 games) led Perth offensively, while Weigh (10.3 points and 3.2 rebounds across 33 games), Schenscher (10 points and 6.2 rebounds across 33 games), Martin (8.3enscher (10 points and 6.2 rebounds across 33 games), Martin points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 32 games) and Cattalini (7.3 points across 32 games) were the other key contributors. Young (6 points and 4.5 rebounds across 16 games) provided additional frontcourt depth following his mid-season arrival.

After averaging only 11.4 points across his first five NBL games, Lisch (21 points in 27 minutes) broke through against Melbourne on October 25, while Wagstaff (14 points and 6 rebounds) delivered his season-high scoring performance and Redhage (15 points and 10 rebounds) helped Perth hold on for a 93-90 win.

On November 8, Wagstaff (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) produced another strong performance as Redhage (22 points and 9 rebounds), Weigh (14 points) and Schenscher (11 points and 7 rebounds) led Perth past New Zealand 94-74, while Tony Ronaldson (13 points) and Dillon Boucher (10 points) were best for the Breakers.

By January, Perth had emerged as the clear frontrunner at 13-8 before securing the minor premiership with a 17-11 record, with Wagstaff named NBL Rookie of the Year, Redhage earning All-NBL First Team honours and Martin receiving an Australian Boomers call-up after delivering his best season to date.

Perth opened the semifinals at Challenge Stadium with an 81-68 win over Gold Coast, with Wagstaff (3 points) contributing off the bench alongside Lisch (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists), Martin (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Redhage (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists), while James Harvey (18 points) and Anthony Petrie (12 points) led the Blaze.

Game two moved to the Gold Coast, where Wagstaff (7 points and 4 rebounds), Lisch (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists), Redhage (14 points and 2 rebounds), Schenscher (11 points and 4 rebounds) and Cattalini (10 points and 7 rebounds) helped Perth overturn a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit and win 82-78, while Harvey (28 points), Craig Bradshaw (18 points and 4 assists) and Chris Goulding (16 points) led the Blaze.

The Grand Final opened in Perth, where Wagstaff (8 points) added scoring off the bench as Redhage (15 points and 8 rebounds), Lisch (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Young (11 points and 7 rebounds) led the Wildcats to a 75-64 win, while Tim Coenraad (16 points and 3 rebounds) and Mat Campbell (13 points) were Wollongong’s best.

Game two moved to Wollongong, where Wagstaff (6 points and 5 rebounds), Lisch (11 points), Weigh (10 points) and Redhage (9 points) struggled to match Cameron Tragardh (28 points), Luke Martin (11 points) and Rhys Martin (10 points) as the Hawks won 75-63 and forced a deciding game.

The series returned to Perth for game three, where the Wildcats recovered from an 11-point second-quarter deficit behind Lisch (29 points and 5 rebounds), Martin (17 points and 2 rebounds), Weigh (13 points and 7 rebounds) and Wagstaff (10 points and 7 rebounds), who delivered his best performance of the postseason, while Glen Saville (13 points and 5 rebounds), Rhys Martin (12 points), Cameron Tragardh (12 points) and Dave Gruber (11 points and 4 rebounds) led Wollongong.

Lisch was named Finals MVP after averaging 18 points and 4 rebounds across the series as Perth defeated Wollongong 96-72 to claim a record fifth NBL championship.

2010/11
During the 2010 off-season, the Perth Wildcats focused on retaining key players and strengthening their roster. They successfully re-signed star import Kevin Lisch despite lucrative offers from European clubs and secured Shawn Redhage on a three-year deal. Additionally, they added Matthew Knight, who had previously played with Damian Martin and coach Rob Beveridge at the Sydney Spirit before the team folded, leading him to pursue a career overseas.

Knight’s debut season with the Wildcats began positively, but a left calf injury suffered on December 12, 2010, against the Melbourne Tigers sidelined him for two months. Further injuries to both Jesse Wagstaff (who was averaging 11.4 points per game) and Shawn Redhage (18 points and 5.8 rebounds per game) threw the Wildcats’ season into further disarray. Redhage’s injury was particularly severe and initially feared to be career-ending. He dislocated his left hip during the Wildcats’ 77–76 loss to the Adelaide 36ers in Adelaide, potentially requiring a hip replacement. The injury occurred when Redhage lunged for a contested ball, causing the head of his femur to punch through his pelvis, breaking the bone and dislocating the joint.

Following Redhage’s injury, the Wildcats lost four consecutive games and won only two of their remaining eight matches. Kevin Lisch (13.5 points per game) delivered another impressive season, scoring in double figures in all but nine games, helping the Wildcats finish in fourth place with a 16–12 record.

Perth faced the first-placed New Zealand Breakers in the semifinals. Behind a 29-point effort from Lisch, the Wildcats won Game One of the series in Auckland with a commanding 101–78 victory. However, the Breakers rebounded to win Games Two (93–89) and Three (99–83), eventually going on to defeat Cairns to win the 2011 NBL Championship. Jesse Wagstaff averaged 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game during the season. Kevin Lisch and Shawn Redhage were named co-MVPs for the Wildcats, and Damian Martin claimed the league’s Best Defensive Player award for the first time.

2011/12
In May 2011, Jesse Wagstaff re-signed with the Wildcats on a three-year deal, solidifying his role in the team’s future. Perth aimed to return to the top by adding 7’2″ center Luke Nevill, with the goal of re-creating the “Perth Wall” alongside Matthew Knight, Shawn Redhage, and Wagstaff, who was returning to action after a career-threatening injury suffered the prior season.

Shawn Redhage made a remarkable return in the Wildcats’ season opener against the Adelaide 36ers on October 8, 2011. In the same arena where his horrific injury had occurred nine months earlier, Redhage scored a game-high 26 points (including 6-of-9 from three-point range). Kevin Lisch added 23 points on 73% shooting, and Jesse Wagstaff contributed 22 points on 50% shooting. The trio led the Wildcats to a dominant 102–69 victory, handing Adelaide their biggest opening-night loss in team history.

After narrowly missing out on the opening round’s Player of the Week award, Redhage earned the honor in Round 2 by recording 21 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in a 92–76 win over Melbourne on October 14, 2011. He concluded the season by earning Player of the Week honours for Round 25 after scoring 19 points, along with seven rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one blocked shot, helping the Wildcats finish the regular season with a road win over Melbourne (72–71).

Kevin Lisch, who had re-signed with the Wildcats on a two-year deal, was labeled the “best import in the league” by coach Rob Beveridge at the start of the year. He lived up to that billing during the early rounds of the season. With Damian Martin injured, Lisch ran the point for the first few weeks, averaging 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in October, guiding the Wildcats to a 3–1 record. Lisch finished the season averaging 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, becoming the league’s leading scorer—the first Wildcats player to do so—and was awarded the NBL Most Valuable Player.

Shawn Redhage (13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists), Jesse Wagstaff (11.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists), and Matthew Knight (10.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) were instrumental to the Wildcats’ success. Damian Martin (7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) claimed his second consecutive Best Defensive Player award.

Perth finished the regular season with a 19–9 record, entering the playoffs as the second seed. After defeating the Gold Coast Blaze in the semifinals (2–1), they faced the New Zealand Breakers in the Grand Final. After losing Game One in Auckland, the Wildcats appeared to be in trouble in Game Two at home. Trailing for much of the game, Perth managed to snatch a thrilling one-point lead with less than a minute to play and held on to defeat the Breakers 87–86. Redhage secured the victory with a memorable last-second block on Breakers guard CJ Bruton.

The series returned to Auckland for the deciding Game Three, where the Wildcats suffered a six-point loss (79–73) in front of 9,258 fans—the largest NBL crowd of the season. Despite the defeat, the Wildcats’ performance throughout the season solidified their status as one of the league’s premier teams.

2012/13
Before the 2012/13 season, the Perth Wildcats moved into their new home, the state-of-the-art Perth Arena, a 13,500-seat stadium that would set the stage for an eventful year. After undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, Matthew Knight was expected to be the team’s primary force in the paint. He embraced this role effectively, earning the NBL’s Player of the Week honours for his 20-point, nine-rebound performance in the Wildcats’ season-opening win over the New Zealand Breakers.

On October 14, against the Townsville Crocodiles, Kevin Lisch played his 100th consecutive NBL game, coinciding with coach Rob Beveridge’s 100th game for the Wildcats. Shortly after, import Michael Dunigan was brought in as a short-term replacement for Knight, who missed four games due to injury. Dunigan quickly became a fan favorite with his thunderous dunks and athletic blocks.

The team faced another hurdle when co-captain Brad Robbins abruptly retired just eight games into the season, citing a loss of motivation and passion for the game. Not long after, Cameron Tovey also announced he would retire at the end of the season.

Amidst these challenges, Jesse Wagstaff stepped up significantly, averaging 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. His contributions were pivotal in helping the Wildcats finish second on the ladder with a 22–6 record. Both Lisch and Knight were named to the All-NBL First Team.

Perth swept the Wollongong Hawks in the semifinals to advance to the 2013 NBL Grand Final series, marking their third consecutive playoff series against the New Zealand Breakers. Another setback struck when Damian Martin, who had joined Shawn Redhage as co-captain after Robbins’ retirement, won his third consecutive Best Defensive Player award but was ruled out of the Grand Final with an Achilles injury. To fill the void, Brad Robbins was rushed back into the team. However, without Martin, the Wildcats were defeated by the Breakers in two straight games, with New Zealand securing their third consecutive championship in 2013.

In late May 2013, both Kevin Lisch and coach Rob Beveridge parted ways with the Wildcats after four seasons. Lisch ended his tenure in Perth to pursue opportunities in Europe, finishing with career averages of 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.

2013/14
Two consecutive Grand Final losses to the New Zealand Breakers brought the Rob Beveridge era to an end, with Beveridge, Kevin Lisch (to France), Cameron Tovey (retired) and Brad Robbins (retired) all leaving Perth during the off-season.

Trevor Gleeson was appointed head coach and inherited a returning core of Damian Martin, Shawn Redhage, Jesse Wagstaff, Matthew Knight and Greg Hire, while new imports James Ennis and Jermaine Beal were joined by Tom Jervis (via East Perth), Drake U’u and Erik Burdon (via Mount Gambier).

Managing director Nick Marvin and Gleeson watched Ennis at the NBA Summer League after he was selected with the 50th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and believed they had found the player capable of replacing Lisch, while Damian Martin was named sole captain after sharing the role with Redhage the previous season.

Mathiang Muo was also signed during the off-season, but a torn left Achilles tendon suffered during Perth’s second official preseason training session ruled him out for the entire season.

Perth opened the season against Adelaide, where the returning forward (15 points and 7 rebounds) provided an immediate lift off the bench and Ennis (25 points and 4 rebounds) set the record at the time for the most points scored by a Wildcat on NBL debut, while Daniel Johnson (28 points and 6 rebounds), Gary Ervin (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Luke Schenscher (13 points) led the 36ers in an 83-80 Perth win.

Wagstaff (10.5 points and 3.7 rebounds across 33 games) appeared in every game, shot 42.7 per cent from beyond the three-point line and provided Gleeson with a reliable scoring option at either forward position.

Ennis was named Player of the Month for October as Perth won its first eight games, while repeated injuries to Knight led to Jarrad Prue being signed as a short-term replacement in October and Jeremiah Trueman returning to the club on an injury-replacement deal in January.

The Wildcats held a 12-1 record at the All-Star break and remained on top of the ladder despite Knight missing half the season.

On January 4, Wagstaff (20 points and 5 rebounds) made all three of his three-point attempts and produced his first 20-point game of the season, with Ennis (25 points and 8 rebounds), Beal (16 points) and Redhage (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) also contributing before Wollongong defeated Perth 96-91 in overtime.

A road game against Melbourne on February 2 saw Wagstaff (18 points and 4 rebounds) hit three three-pointers as Beal (21 points and 6 assists), Ennis (16 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals) and Jervis (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Perth to an 81-57 victory, while Mark Worthington (14 points and 8 rebounds) and Mustapha Farrakhan (12 points) were Melbourne’s best.

Five days later, Wagstaff (24 points) delivered his best game of the season, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, but Steven Markovic (22 points and 6 assists), Brian Conklin (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Todd Blanchfield (14 points and 9 rebounds) led Townsville to an 88-75 win.

Perth completed the regular season with an 86-65 win over Wollongong as Wagstaff (13 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists), Ennis (17 points), Beal (15 points and 6 rebounds) and Jervis (8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led the Wildcats, while Tim Coenraad (13 points) and Rotnei Clarke (10 points and 4 assists) were best for the Hawks.

The victory secured Perth first place with a 21-7 record and extended the club’s postseason streak to 28 consecutive seasons.

Ennis (21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 33 games) and Beal (15.6 points and 3.4 assists across 33 games) formed the league’s best import combination, while Redhage (13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds across 33 games), Knight (10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 18 games), Martin (7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 steals across 33 games) and Jervis (5.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 33 games) completed Perth’s main rotation.

Ennis was selected to the All-NBL First Team, while Beal and Martin were named to the All-NBL Second Team, Martin won the NBL Best Defensive Player Award for the fourth consecutive season and Jervis was named NBL Rookie of the Year.

Perth opened the semifinals at Perth Arena with a 91-79 win over Wollongong behind Ennis (25 points and 9 rebounds), Jervis (14 points and 5 rebounds), Redhage (12 points and 5 rebounds) and Wagstaff (11 points and 7 rebounds), while Clarke (23 points and 4 assists), Oscar Forman (18 points and 5 rebounds) and Rhys Martin (11 points) led the Hawks.

Game two moved to Wollongong, where Wagstaff (2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block), Redhage (26 points and 6 rebounds), Ennis (20 points and 8 rebounds) and Beal (15 points and 4 assists) led Perth to an 80-61 win, while Coenraad (15 points and 4 rebounds), Clarke (11 points), Rhys Martin (10 points and 3 assists) and Dave Gruber (9 points and 10 rebounds) were Wollongong’s best.

Perth’s straight-sets victory sent the Wildcats into the Grand Final against Adelaide, who defeated Melbourne in three games on the other side of the bracket.

The Grand Final series opened in Perth, where Wagstaff (5 points and 2 rebounds) contributed off the bench as Ennis (30 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists), Beal (19 points), Redhage (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Hire (10 points and 7 rebounds) led the Wildcats to a 92-85 win, while Johnson (18 points and 8 rebounds), Anthony Petrie (14 points and 6 rebounds), Adam Gibson (13 points and 9 assists) and Schenscher (12 points and 7 rebounds) led Adelaide.

Game two moved to Adelaide in front of 8,127 fans, where Wagstaff (12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals), Beal (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), Ennis (14 points and 9 rebounds), Knight (14 points) and Martin (11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) kept Perth close, but Ervin (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists), Gibson (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Johnson (18 points) carried the 36ers to an 89-84 win.

The deciding game attracted 13,498 members of Perth’s Red Army, with Ennis (9 points and 4 steals) limited by foul trouble before Redhage (16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) scored 10 points in the opening quarter to establish control.

Martin (14 points and 6 rebounds) restricted Ervin (4 points) at the other end, while Beal (15 points and 4 assists), Hire (9 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists), Knight (10 points) and Wagstaff (3 points and 3 rebounds) provided support, with Petrie (20 points and 4 rebounds), Johnson (9 points) and Gibson (8 points) leading Adelaide.

Beal was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 17.6 points and shooting 48 per cent from beyond the three-point line during the series.

Perth defeated Adelaide 93-59 to win the series 2-1 and claim its sixth NBL championship.

2014/15
Perth’s championship roster lost James Ennis (to Miami) and Erik Burdon (to Mount Gambier), but Trevor Gleeson retained almost the entire group that had defeated Adelaide in the Grand Final.

Shawn Redhage signed a three-year contract, Damian Martin agreed to a two-year deal with an additional season option and Jesse Wagstaff, Jermaine Beal, Matthew Knight, Greg Hire, Tom Jervis and Drake U’u all returned, while DeAndre Daniels (via Connecticut) and Earnest Ross (via Missouri) were recruited as the team’s new additions.

Daniels arrived after being selected with the 37th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, taking the second import position vacated by Ennis, while Martin continued as Perth’s captain.

The Wildcats opened their championship defence at home against New Zealand, where the championship forward (3 points and 2 assists) contributed off the bench and Redhage (20 points), Daniels (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Beal (12 points and 5 assists) led Perth before the Breakers won 80-70.

Wagstaff (8.5 points and 4 rebounds across 30 games) appeared in every regular-season and postseason game, again providing frontcourt depth and outside shooting from Perth’s bench.

Days after the season opener, Hire tore his left calf at training and was sidelined for three months, leading to Mathiang Muo being activated as an injury replacement after spending the previous season recovering from a torn Achilles.

Muo played 15 games before being deactivated on January 15 following Hire’s return to the roster.

Against Sydney on October 24, Wagstaff (15 points and 2 rebounds) combined with Beal (16 points), Redhage (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists), Knight (10 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Martin (2 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 9 steals) as Perth defeated the Kings 84-63, with Martin recording the second-most steals in a game by a Wildcat behind Ricky Grace’s 10.

Ben Madgen (15 points and 5 rebounds), Jason Cadee (12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Josh Childress (11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks) led Sydney, but the game became remembered for Childress being knocked to the floor by an off-ball screen before running at Wagstaff and delivering a raised forearm across his upper body.

An NBL tribunal cleared Childress of striking with his elbow but suspended him for one game and fined him $3,750 for unduly rough play, with another $3,750 fine imposed for bringing the game into disrepute.

On December 5, Wagstaff (16 points and 5 rebounds) connected on four of his five three-point attempts as Daniels (20 points and 8 rebounds), Beal (12 points) and Knight (10 points and 9 rebounds) led Perth to a 79-55 victory over Wollongong, while Oscar Forman (16 points and 5 rebounds), Rhys Martin (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Gary Ervin (10 points and 5 assists) were the Hawks’ best.

Wagstaff (23 points and 7 rebounds) delivered his best game of the season against Adelaide on January 16, shooting 8-of-17 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, while Daniels (24 points and 6 rebounds), Redhage (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Jervis (14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) helped Perth score 102 points.

Brock Motum (31 points and 13 rebounds), Jamar Wilson (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Petrie (15 points and 4 rebounds) carried Adelaide to a 106-102 win.

One week later, Wagstaff (19 points and 7 rebounds) hit three three-pointers as Beal (21 points and 3 assists), Jervis (12 points and 11 rebounds) and Martin (8 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Perth defeat Townsville 93-85 in overtime, overcoming Conklin (28 points and 9 rebounds), Blanchfield (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Markovic (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists).

Injuries continued to impact Perth’s frontcourt, with Knight missing six games due to a broken toe and appearing in 24, while Hire was restricted to a career-low 11 games because of his calf problems. Redhage later suffered a stress fracture in his right foot which ruled him out of the entire postseason.

Perth finished its regular season with an 81-71 win over Townsville as Wagstaff (3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist), Daniels (24 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks), Redhage (16 points) and Jervis (14 points and 8 rebounds) led the Wildcats, while Conklin (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), Blanchfield (14 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Markovic (14 points and 5 assists) were best for the Crocodiles. The Wildcats finished fourth with a 16-12 record and qualified for the postseason for the 29th consecutive year.

Beal (16.4 points across 30 games) became Perth’s primary offensive option, led the league with 69 three-pointers and won the Gordon Ellis Medal as the Wildcats’ club MVP, while Daniels (14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds across 30 games) finished second in the club’s MVP voting.

Redhage (11.4 points and 3.9 rebounds across 28 games), Knight (10.5 points and 7 rebounds across 24 games), Jervis (7.1 points and 4.9 rebounds across 30 games) and Martin (6.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.7 steals across 30 games) were the other main contributors.

Knight was selected to the All-NBL Second Team and received Perth’s Coaches Award, Jervis was named the club’s Most Improved Player and Martin won the NBL Best Defensive Player Award for the fifth consecutive year, drawing level with Darnell Mee for the most wins in league history at the time.

Perth opened the semifinals in Cairns without Redhage, where Wagstaff (12 points and 1 block), Beal (20 points and 4 rebounds), Daniels (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks), Martin (7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals) and Knight (8 points and 9 rebounds) kept the Wildcats close, but Scottie Wilbekin (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists), Cameron Tragardh (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Stephen Weigh (11 points) led the Taipans to a 71-64 win. Hire suffered another calf injury during game one and was ruled out of the second game.

Game two moved to Perth, where Wagstaff (0 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists), Beal (21 points and 4 assists), Knight (18 points and 10 rebounds), Martin (9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Daniels (9 points and 5 rebounds) were unable to extend the series, while Wilbekin (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists), Weigh (16 points), Cameron Gliddon (11 points and 5 rebounds), Alex Loughton (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Matt Burston (10 points and 5 rebounds) led Cairns.

Cairns defeated Perth 80-68 to complete the semifinal sweep.

2014/15
In 2014, the reigning NBL champions, the Perth Wildcats, returned with nearly their entire roster intact to pursue back-to-back titles. They successfully re-signed Shawn Redhage and Damian Martin, both on three-year deals, and retained key players Jermaine Beal, Matthew Knight, Greg Hire, and Tom Jervis. Although they lost star import James Ennis to the NBA, they secured another talented player in DeAndre Daniels (14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds) as their second import.

This season, Redhage handed over the captaincy to Damian Martin. The Wildcats faced significant injury challenges throughout the year, especially in their frontcourt. Matthew Knight was limited to just six games, Greg Hire appeared in 19, and Redhage suffered a stress fracture in his right foot, causing him to miss the entire finals campaign.

Jesse Wagstaff played in 30 games, averaging 8.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. He gained international attention when he was on the receiving end of a vicious clothesline from Sydney Kings import Josh Childress.

An NBL tribunal cleared Childress of striking with his elbow but banned him for one game and fined him $3,750 for unduly rough play. He was fined an additional $3,750 for bringing the game into disrepute.

With the departure of Ennis, Jermaine Beal (16.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) became Perth’s primary offensive weapon and was awarded the club’s MVP at the end of the season. Despite their injury-plagued roster, the Wildcats managed to finish in fourth place with a 16–12 record. Matthew Knight earned a spot on the All-NBL Second Team, and Damian Martin was named the NBL’s Best Defensive Player for the fifth consecutive year.

Perth was swiftly eliminated by the Cairns Taipans in the semifinals. The Wildcats struggled to contain Taipans’ guard Scottie Wilbekin, who amassed 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in Game One (71-64), followed by 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists in Game Two (80-68).

2015/16
Following an injury-riddled season that ended in a semi-final defeat—much like the 2010/11 season—coach Trevor Gleeson entered the 2015/16 campaign confident that he had assembled a team capable of securing Perth’s seventh championship. Acknowledging chemistry issues from the previous year, the Wildcats added high-profile recruits Casey Prather and Nathan Jawai, as well as backup guard Jarrod Kenny, to improve team balance.

With Nathan Jawai’s arrival, an injury-free Matthew Knight was able to shift to his natural position of power forward for the first time, while Shawn Redhage transitioned to a bench role. Jesse Wagstaff continued to be a key contributor, providing valuable minutes and experience in the frontcourt rotation.

The season’s first month was marred by a significant setback when Damian Martin suffered a broken jaw and lost teeth due to an errant elbow from Townsville Crocodiles forward Brian Conklin. Despite initially being ruled out for three weeks, Martin made a remarkable return by the end of the month. In February, he celebrated his 200th game for the Wildcats.

Perth battled Melbourne United for the top spot on the ladder all season. A highlight came in December when Jermaine Beal notched a career-high 40 points, sinking 10 three-pointers, as the Wildcats dismantled Melbourne 113–83.

In January, Shawn Redhage played his 350th NBL game but averaged under 10 points per game (6.6 points) for the first time in his career. Jesse Wagstaff stepped up, averaging 9.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, bolstering the team’s performance during crucial stretches.

The Wildcats concluded the regular season with an 18–10 record, finishing in second place and reaching the playoffs for the 30th consecutive year—a streak unmatched in any other Australian or American professional sports league.

In the semi-finals, Perth faced the Rob Beveridge-led Illawarra Hawks. The Wildcats dominated Game One, with Casey Prather leading the scoring with 19 points in an 80–68 victory. However, the Hawks evened the series in Game Two, thanks to an outstanding performance from Oscar Forman, who scored 21 points to defeat Perth 104–87.

Back on home soil for the decisive Game Three, the Wildcats secured the series with a convincing 89–74 win. Jermaine Beal led the team with 17 points, and Prather added 15 points, including a thunderous one-handed slam over A.J. Ogilvy early in the fourth quarter. Jesse Wagstaff continued to provide steady play off the bench, helping set up an NBL Finals showdown against the reigning champions, the New Zealand Breakers.

In Game One of the Grand Final series, the Wildcats relied on Jawai’s inside presence, Prather’s athleticism and tough defense, and Kenny’s support of captain Damian Martin—addressing critical areas they had lacked the previous season. They secured an 82–76 victory to take a 1–0 series lead. In Game Two back in New Zealand, the Breakers leveled the series with a 72–68 win, propelled by import Cedric Jackson’s near triple-double of 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.

With the deciding Game Three in Perth and 13,090 members of the “Red Army” in attendance, the Wildcats’ core—including Jesse Wagstaff, Redhage, Knight, Greg Hire, Beal, and Tom Jervis—ensured history did not repeat itself. Casey Prather (19 points) and Jermaine Beal (14 points) led the scoring, but it was Damian Martin’s inspirational defensive display that stood out. Martin was named Grand Final MVP after holding star Breakers guard Cedric Jackson scoreless in the deciding game. The Wildcats claimed their seventh championship with a commanding 75–52 victory.

2016/17
In April 2016, the Perth Wildcats re-signed both Damian Martin (on a three-year deal) and Matthew Knight (two-year deal), even as Knight was recovering from shoulder stabilisation surgery on his left arm. Just before the Wildcats’ opening game, Knight was ruled out for two months after suffering a subluxation of his right shoulder during training. To fill the void, the team added free agent Lucas Walker, who had been training with Melbourne after not being re-signed by Adelaide, as an injury replacement player.

After incorporating Walker, the Wildcats started the season strong with a 4–1 record. Once Knight was cleared to return, Walker was removed from the active roster but remained with the team as a training player. Knight made his season debut in a win over Illawarra (80–73), contributing 12 points and 8 rebounds. However, further injuries to Damian Martin and Jarrod Kenny depleted the team’s backcourt.

During a victory over Melbourne (72–69), Martin collected a career-high 13 rebounds but received a heavy knock to the head. X-rays revealed a fracture to the left side of his jaw, ruling him out for two weeks. Remarkably, he returned after missing just one game but then suffered a grade three MCL tear in his left knee against Adelaide on November 5, sidelining him for 10 to 12 weeks.

By December, the Wildcats had slumped to last place with a 7–9 record. An import shuffle saw Jaron Johnson (13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) replaced by three-point specialist Andre Ingram. In a bizarre twist, Ingram (8.5 points, 2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals) left the team after just two games, citing mental health issues. Johnson was temporarily reinstated before being released again in December when the Wildcats seized the opportunity to sign former NBA guard Bryce Cotton. Around this time, veteran Shawn Redhage (2.7 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 assists) announced he would retire at the end of the season.

Amidst the roster turbulence, Casey Prather (19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals) continued to shoulder the offensive load. This included a career-high 39 points in a 92–89 win over Melbourne United on December 9. In February, Prather scored 29 points in a win over the Sydney Kings (101–74) and followed up with 26 points and a career-high 11 assists in a 96–94 victory over United two days later. Damian Martin (4.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals) returned to form after his injuries, and in his 250th NBL game on January 28, he scored a season-high 11 points along with six rebounds and four assists in a win over Melbourne (73–71).

The addition of Bryce Cotton transformed the Wildcats, who won eight of their remaining twelve regular-season games, including two must-win games to reach the playoffs. Cotton (23.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals) finished as the league’s leading scorer. Prather finished second in NBL MVP voting with 107 votes, behind Jerome Randle (147) of the Adelaide 36ers, and was selected to the All-NBL First Team. Jesse Wagstaff continued his crucial role off the bench, playing all 33 games and averaging 9.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.

In the semifinals, Perth (15–13) faced Cairns (15–13) at home. Cotton (34 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Prather (22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) led the way offensively for an easy Game One win (91–69). In Game Two, the Wildcats closed out the series with a 74–66 victory. Prather led the team with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Jesse Wagstaff had a significant impact off the bench with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.

In the NBL Grand Final series against the Illawarra Hawks, Prather (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), Cotton (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), and Knight (18 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals) delivered a balanced offensive attack to win the opening game by twelve points (89–77). Game Two moved to Wollongong, but the Wildcats continued their playoff winning streak with another 89–77 victory. Cotton (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Prather (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) were the primary scorers, and five Wildcats scored in double figures.

Perth won Game Three comfortably (95–86), finishing undefeated in the postseason and claiming their eighth championship—winning back-to-back titles for the first time since 1991. Several records were set during the Game Three win. Most notably, Bryce Cotton was named Grand Final MVP after scoring 45 points, the most ever in an NBL Grand Final game. His average of 27.7 points per game over the series was the highest by any player in 20 years.

Coach Trevor Gleeson became the first in Perth’s history to win back-to-back championships. Casey Prather had a historic season, being voted Wildcats MVP for the second consecutive year—the only player to be a club MVP in more than one championship season—and becoming the first Perth player to win two championships in his first two seasons.

Jesse Wagstaff continued to play a pivotal role within the Wildcats’ bench unit, contributing consistent performances throughout the season and playoffs. His experience and leadership were invaluable assets as the team navigated a challenging season to emerge as champions once again.