NICKNAME/S: JC, The Alabama Slamma

BIO: Crawford was born in Lower Peach Tree, Alabama, and attended Pine Hill High School in Pine Hill, Alabama.

NBL EXPERIENCE

James Crawford made his NBL debut with the Geelong Cats at 21 years of age. He scored 27 points in his first game.

On the back of winning a state league title in 1981, Geelong and a successful appeareance in the NBL preseason tournament where the Cats defeated multiple NBL squads, Geelong was entered into the NBL for the 1982 season.

Tim Kaiser coached the expansion side and worked with a roster featuring high-scoring guard Cal Bruton (via Brisbane), Craig Herbert, Brad Miley, Geoff Saunders and Ian Manson, while a 21-year-old American forward/centre was recruited from Cumberlands to anchor the frontcourt.

Geelong opened its NBL history at Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium on February 6, defeating the Westate Wildcats 105-74 as James Crawford (via Cumberlands) delivered 27 points and 17 rebounds in his league debut.

Crawford (26.0 points and 10.9 rebounds across 28 games) immediately established himself as one of the NBL’s most dominant interior players, leading Geelong in scoring alongside Bruton (23.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 28 games).

No one would have predicted Geelong would reach the NBL Grand Final after the Cats opened with a 2-3 record, with the early losses including a 96-72 defeat against Nunawading where Crawford (11 points and 5 rebounds) was held to his lowest score of the season.

As a result of the slow start, Kaiser was fired and replaced by Bruton, who acted as player-coach for the remainder of the season, with a stunning 13-game winning streak following as Crawford continued to carry the scoring and rebounding load inside.

Crawford’s best game came against Newcastle on May 22, producing 37 points and 16 rebounds as Geelong escaped the Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre with an 86-83 victory.

He delivered another dominant performance in Canberra on June 26, with Crawford (34 points and 11 rebounds) leading the Cats to an 89-88 win over the Cannons.

Geelong travelled to Apollo Stadium on July 10, where Crawford (36 points and 13 rebounds) delivered his second-highest scoring performance of the season, but Adelaide City held on for a 104-103 victory.

The Cats returned to Apollo Stadium the following day and were defeated 110-81 by West Adelaide despite Crawford (33 points and 8 rebounds), ending the regular season in second place with a 20-6 record.

Herbert (9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds across 27 games), Miley (7.6 points and 10.1 rebounds across 28 games), Saunders (6.8 points across 28 games) and Manson (4.8 points across 26 games) provided the main support behind Geelong’s import pairing.

At the end of the regular season, Crawford was selected to the All-NBL First Team in his rookie campaign, while Bruton received the NBL Coach of the Year award after transforming the Cats into championship contenders.

Geelong opened the sudden-death finals weekend at Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium in Newcastle against Nunawading, where Crawford (29 points and 13 rebounds) led the Cats to a 71-59 victory and revenge for their heavy loss earlier in the season.

The Cats advanced to face West Adelaide, who had lost only five regular-season games, including two by one point and another by two points, before eliminating Coburg 94-74 in the semifinals.

West Adelaide’s Big Three of Al Green, Leroy Loggins and player-coach Ken Richardson had carried the Bearcats throughout the season, with Green (26.5 points and 4.7 rebounds), Loggins (25.0 points and 8.5 rebounds) and Richardson (14.5 points and 6.2 rebounds) presenting Geelong with the league’s most powerful offensive combination.

The championship game remained at the neutral Newcastle venue, where West Adelaide resisted Geelong’s second-half challenge to win 80-74 and become the first South Australian team to claim the national championship, with the appearance ultimately proving to be the Cats’ only NBL Grand Final across their 15 seasons in the league.

No Grand Final MVP was awarded, although Loggins (32 points) was named player of the match, while Crawford (21 points and 6 rebounds) led Geelong in the loss.

1983
After reaching the Grand Final in their first NBL season, Geelong entered 1983 without Brad Miley (to Keflavik), Ian Manson, William Stewart, Ken Price and Jay Tremmeling, while player/coach Cal Bruton, Craig Herbert, Geoff Saunders, Bruce Hope and Lindsay Palmer returned from the previous year.

The Cats strengthened the roster with Brian Banks (via Brisbane), Tony Barnett (via St Kilda), Jim Town, John Revels, Eddie Kardas, Robert Doherty and Glen Huntington as they looked to build on their debut campaign.

Ge Robert Doherty and Glen Huntington as they looked to build on their debut campaign.Crawford (24.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks) remained Geelong’s leading scorer and rebounder, while his 69 blocks across the 22-game regular season were the most in the NBL.

He delivered one of his best all-round performances on April 16, with Crawford (30 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 8 blocks) dominating defensively as Geelong defeated Adelaide 95-88 at Corio Leisure Centre.

Geelong began a difficult road double in Wollongong on April 30, where Crawford (35 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) shot 16-of-21 from the field to lead the Cats to a 115-95 win over the Hawks.

The following day, Crawford (36 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks) produced his highest-scoring game of the season, making 14 field goals and eight free throws as Geelong defeated Brisbane 79-58 at Auchenflower Stadium.

Geelong closed the regular season at Apollo Stadium on June 18, where Crawford (33 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) shot 14-of-18 from the field in a 106-90 win over Adelaide.

The victory completed a six-game winning streak and left the Cats first in the Western Division with an 18-4 record, the second-best mark in the NBL behind Sydney.

Bruton (19.1 points and 1.6 steals), who became a naturalised Australian that year, remained Geelong’s second-leading scorer while coaching the side, with Town (16.3 points and 6.9 rebounds), Banks (12.7 points and 1.7 steals), Barnett (8.9 points) and Herbert (6.1 points and 5.0 rebounds) providing the main support.

Crawford and Bruton were both selected to the All-NBL First Team, giving Crawford consecutive selections across his first two seasons.

With the league split into two eight-team divisions, the top four teams from each entered a three-game round robin to determine the four semifinalists.

Geelong opened the Western round robin at Albert Park, where Crawford (15 points) was held without a rebound, but the Cats escaped with a 95-94 win over St Kilda.

Game two moved to Corio Leisure Centre, where Crawford (24 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks), Bruton (16 points) and Town (15 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) led Geelong, while Dave Nelson (22 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block), Phil Smyth (22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Wade Kirchmeyer (16 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) carried Canberra to an 86-81 win.

Geelong’s final round-robin game was played at Kilsyth Stadium, where Crawford (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) was held to his lowest score of the season as Nunawading defeated the Cats 107-74, leaving Geelong third in the Western group with a 1-2 record and outside the semifinals.

1984
In 1984, player/coach Cal Bruton would go on a major recruiting drive, adding Wayne Mcdaniel, Danny Morseu and Brad Dalton to the roster. Geelong would then reel off a amazing season, losing only one game at home and one game away all season.

James Crawford (28.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.6 blocks) would lead the team in scoring and rebounding while Bruton (22.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.7 steals) led the team in assists and for the second season in a row, both would be selected to the All-NBL First team.

New additions McDaniel (23.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists 1.2 steals, 1.2 blocks), Morseu (20.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks) and Dalton (10.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks) saw the Cat’s starting lineup combine for a incredible 105 points per game.

Geelong (21-2) finished first in the league’s Western Diviision, setting the record for fewest regular season losses of all time. The NBL playoff format for this season, saw the top four team’s in each division competed in a 1v2/3v4 elimination finals fixture between 22 June and 23 June, with the loser of 1v2 playing the winner of 3v4 for a spot in the semifinals.

Canberra (16-7), who finished 5 games behind Geelong in the Western Conference, defeated the Cats in the elimination finals (81-87), with Crawford (29 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks) leading the team in scoring, but high scoring teammates failing to deliver their usual performances. Dave Nelson (22 points and 8 rebounds), Herb McEachin (21 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals) and Phil Smyth (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) doing the damage for the Canons. The loss, sent Canberra onto the semi finals but forced Geelong to defeat Nunawading (14-9) to make it through.

The Cats resumed their high-scoring ways to defeat the Spectres (115-91) and reach the semi finals. Morseau (34 points, 9 rebonds 4 assists, and 3 blocks)bounced back after finishing were a mere 8 points against the Cannons in the previous game, giving Crawford (28 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks) the help needed to reach the next round.

There Geelong faced Brisbane (19-5), who had finished first in the league’s Eastern Division, behind stars Leroy Loggins (29.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks), Ron Radliff (20 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.0 steals), and Larry Sengstock (18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks). Although the Cats got big games from each of their stars, Morseau (19 points and 3 rebounds), McDaniel (21 points and 8 rebounds), Crawford (22 points and 12 rebounds), and Bruton (31 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) delivering his best game of the playoffs, the Bullets were able to equal their offensive abilities, and came away as victors (107-103). Loggins (32 points and 6 rebounds) and Radliff (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) leading Brisbane on the stats sheet, in what was really a well rounded team game for the Bullets.

Canberra would go on to defeat Brisbane in the Grand Final by two points (84-82).

1985
Following three straight postseason appearances, Geelong entered 1985 without player/coach Cal Bruton (to Brisbane), Kelvin Small, Geoff Saunders, Lindsay Palmer, Eddie Kardas and Glen Huntington, while James Crawford, Wayne McDaniel, Danny Morseu, Brad Dalton, Craig Herbert, Bruce Hope and Peter Myers remained from the previous season’s group.

Casey Jones took over as coach and joined the playing roster, with Alan Westover (via Melbourne), Steve Breheny (via St Kilda) and Geelong junior Ross Hultgren added around the returning frontcourt.

Geelong opened at Corio Leisure Centre on April 13, where James (32 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) shot 12-of-15 from the field as the Cats defeated Melbourne 128-91.

Crawford (27.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.4 blocks across 26 games) remained one of the league’s most productive frontcourt players, leading Geelong in rebounding and blocks while finishing second on the team in scoring.

McDaniel (30.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals) became the Cats’ leading scorer, while Morseu (15.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), Dalton (11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks), Westover (8.4 points) and Breheny (8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds) formed the main support around Geelong’s two leading offensive players.

Crawford (45 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) delivered his highest-scoring game of the season on June 16, making 19-of-28 field goals and 7-of-9 free throws as Geelong defeated Perth 144-122 at Corio Leisure Centre.

The Perth victory left Jones (7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists) with a 10-5 coaching record before former West Adelaide championship coach Ken Richardson replaced him for the remaining 11 games.

Crawford (42 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 7 steals, and 3 blocks) produced his best all-round game on July 10, making 15-of-26 field goals, his only three-point attempt and 11-of-13 free throws as Geelong defeated Coburg 118-112 at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre.

He then controlled the paint against St Kilda on July 27, with Crawford (30 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 blocks) helping the Cats win 115-106 and remain in contention for the final playoff position.

Geelong’s finals hopes suffered a major setback on August 3 when Nunawading escaped Corio Leisure Centre with a 99-98 win despite Crawford (21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 6 blocks).

Crawford (27 points and 17 rebounds) helped the Cats respond with a 118-111 win over Melbourne at Albert Park on August 10, leaving Geelong’s season to be decided in the final round.

Geelong closed the season at Corio Leisure Centre on August 16, where Crawford (43 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 6 blocks) made 18-of-30 field goals, his only three-point attempt and 6-of-7 free throws, but Newcastle won 116-111, leaving the Cats seventh with a 15-11 record and one game outside the six-team playoffs.

CANBERRA CANNONS
1986
Canberra reworked its roster for 1986, with Dave Nelson (to Adelaide), Mark Dalton (to Geelong), Tad Dufelmeier, Garry Ball and Mark Sinderberry exiting while Herb McEachin, Phil Smyth, Andy Campbell, Tim Morrissey and Jamie Kennedy remained with the Cannons.

Head coach Bob Turner added Simon Cottrell (via Nunawading), Mel Dalgleish, Jerry Lee, David Monck and Brendan Zauner, while securing Geelong’s leading scorer to anchor the frontcourt.

The Cannons opened the season at the AIS Arena on April 26, with James Crawford (via Geelong, 24 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks) leading Canberra to a 98-95 win over Hobart.

Crawford (27.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks across 27 games) immediately became Canberra’s leading scorer and rebounder, giving the Cannons another dominant interior presence alongside their experienced returning core.

He delivered 37 points and 7 rebounds on July 19 as Canberra defeated Newcastle 116-94 at the Newcastle Sports Entertainment Centre.

Crawford faced his former team for the first time six days later, producing 34 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as the Cannons defeated Geelong 116-104.

The return game moved to Geelong Arena on August 2, where Crawford (35 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) led Canberra to a 115-104 win and completed the season sweep of his former club.

He produced another major performance against West Sydney on August 16, with Crawford (36 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) carrying the Cannons to a 99-87 victory.

Crawford’s best game of the season came one week later at Albert Park, where he finished with 51 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks as Canberra defeated St Kilda 133-121.

The Cannons closed the regular season at home against Perth on September 27, with Crawford (31 points, 18 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) controlling the paint in a 114-78 win.

Campbell (5.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks) suffered a serious knee injury during the game, ruling Canberra’s starting centre out of the postseason and badly damaging the team’s championship chances.

Canberra finished second with a 19-7 record, including an 11-2 mark at the AIS Arena and an 8-5 record away from home, earning direct entry into a home semifinal.

Crawford led the Cannons in scoring and rebounding, while McEachin (15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals) was the team’s second-leading scorer. Cottrell (14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds), Smyth (12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 3.0 steals), Morrissey (11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds) and Dalgleish (11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals) provided the main support.

Without Campbell, Canberra hosted Brisbane at the AIS Arena in the sudden-death semifinal, taking a 30-19 first-quarter lead before the Bullets took control after halftime behind Leroy Loggins (43 points and 9 rebounds) and Ron Radliff (3 assists). Cottrell (25 points) led the Cannons in scoring and Smyth (4 assists) directed the backcourt as Brisbane won 120-100. Crawford (19 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Canberra on the glass in the loss.

PERTH WILDCATS
1987
After five seasons without a winning record, Perth entered 1987 without Dan Clausen, Roland Brooks, Sandy Caldwell (to Geelong) and Duane Bergeson, while captain Mike Ellis, Alan Black, Craig Fitzsimmons and Trevor Torrance returned from the previous year.

In his sixth season in Australia, James Crawford (via Canberra) moved to the Wildcats, where he would spend the remaining 13 seasons of his NBL career outside of a one-game cameo for the Cannons in 2003.

New owner Bob Williams moved quickly to turn a club which had never produced a winning season from the league’s basketcase into a contender. His first move was replacing Jay Brehmer with Cal Bruton (via Brisbane) as player/coach and providing him with a budget to “build me a team,” with Kendal Pinder (via Sydney), Steve Davis (via Nunawading) and Dan Hickert also added to the roster.

The Wildcats moved from the small confines of the 800-seat Perry Lakes Stadium into the 5,000-seat Perth Superdrome, now known as HBF Stadium. The player/coach also brought the level of professionalism demanded by Williams, with the players wearing suits carrying the Wildcats logo whenever they appeared in public.

Before the regular season, Perth turned heads at the preseason tournament in Sydney, arriving in matching white tracksuits as part of the club’s complete image makeover before defeating Adelaide in the final and collecting $15,000.

The player/coach openly modelled the new Wildcats on Adelaide’s 1986 championship team, with the new import frontcourt recruited as Perth’s answer to Mark Davis and Bill Jones and quickly developing into one of the league’s best combinations.

Perth opened the season at Perry Lakes on April 25, where James (33 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) made an immediate impact as the Wildcats defeated Westside 133-111.

Crawford (33.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 2.3 blocks across 32 games) transformed Perth’s frontcourt, producing one of the most efficient seasons in NBL history, leading the Wildcats in scoring, steals and blocks while shooting 61% from the field and leading the NBL in field-goal percentage.

The “rim rocking” Alabama Slamma filled both the stands and the stat sheet, with crowds of around 4,200 becoming “easy work” inside the new venue. His output ranked as the second-most efficient statistical season in NBL history and remained the highest-scoring campaign of his career.

Crawford (41 points, 22 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) made 15-of-24 field goals and 11-of-14 free throws on June 19 as Perth defeated Eastside Melbourne 123-93 at the Superdrome.

He delivered another huge performance at Keilor Stadium on August 8, with Crawford (52 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) making 22-of-31 field goals as the Wildcats defeated Westside 123-106.

His best game of the season came against the Melbourne Tigers at Albert Park on September 6, where Crawford (57 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) made 24-of-36 field goals and 9-of-10 free throws while playing all 48 minutes. Andrew Gaze (48 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Melbourne, but Perth won 153-119 as the Alabama Slamma set a Wildcats single-game scoring record which stood for 13,601 days until Bryce Cotton scored 59 points on December 1, 2024.

Perth completed the regular season against his former team on September 19, with Crawford (39 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) helping the Wildcats defeat Geelong 119-105 and finish fourth with a 19-7 record.

Pinder (23.5 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 32 games) led Perth in rebounding, while Bruton (16.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.6 steals across 26 games) led the team in assists while juggling his playing and coaching roles.

Black (10.5 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 30 games), Ellis (9.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.4 steals across 31 games) and Davis (8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds across 32 games) provided the main support, with the captain regularly defending the opposition’s best guard as Perth’s “run, stun and have some fun” style delivered the best season in club history.

The fourth-place finish took the Wildcats into the playoffs for the first time and began a run of 35 consecutive postseason appearances. Crawford was named Perth’s club MVP and selected to the All-NBL First Team for the fourth time in his career.

Perth’s first postseason game came at the Superdrome against his former team, where Crawford (23 points, 21 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks) controlled the glass as the Wildcats defeated Canberra 101-96 and advanced to face defending champion Adelaide.

The semifinal series opened in Perth, where Crawford (24 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) led the Wildcats, but Darryl Pearce (24 points and 6 assists) helped the 36ers escape with a 99-98 victory.

Game two moved to Apollo Stadium, where Crawford (40 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) repeatedly punished Adelaide with his baseline corner jumper as Perth recovered from a double-digit deficit entering the fourth quarter. The Wildcats outscored Adelaide 31-19 in the final period to overcome Pearce (29 points) and win 101-99.

Perth remained at Apollo Stadium for the deciding game, where Crawford (34 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) led the Wildcats past Pearce (16 points) and the 36ers 103-93, sending the club into its first Grand Final.

The championship series matched Perth against Brisbane, who had finished second with a 20-6 record and reached a league-record fourth consecutive Grand Final. The series also brought Bruton against former Bullets coach Brian Kerle following their public falling-out, with Perth’s high-scoring style facing Brisbane’s deeper and more structured lineup.

Game one was played before a sell-out crowd at the Perth Superdrome, where Pinder (27 points and 15 rebounds) and Crawford (23 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Wildcats. Brisbane elevated teenage guard Darren Perry (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals) into the starting lineup, while Emery Atkinson (22 points and 9 rebounds), Leroy Loggins (17 points and 5 rebounds), Larry Sengstock (8 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 assists) and John Dorge (5 points and 5 rebounds) helped the Bullets grind out an 80-79 victory.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Pinder (25 points and 15 rebounds) again caused problems inside, but Perth’s guards struggled against the Bullets’ frontcourt defence. Bruton (9 points), Ellis (6 points) and Black (2 points) combined for only 17 points, while Loggins (36 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), Perry (12 points and 3 assists), Atkinson (12 points and 4 rebounds), Sengstock (8 points and 6 rebounds) and Dorge (7 points and 10 rebounds) led Brisbane to a 106-87 win and its second championship. The Brisbane star averaged 26.5 points across the series and was named Grand Final MVP. Crawford (22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) played 40:47 minutes in the loss.

1988
Following their first Grand Final appearance, Perth entered 1988 without Craig Fitzsimmons (to Geelong) and Glenn Ellis (retired), while James Crawford, Kendal Pinder, captain Mike Ellis, Alan Black, Steve Davis, Trevor Torrance, Eric Watterson and player/coach Cal Bruton returned from the previous season.

The player/coach strengthened an already established roster by recruiting Paul Kuiper (via Westside) and young guard Scott Fenton as the Wildcats looked to build on their breakthrough year.

Perth opened the season at the Perth Superdrome on February 13, where James (30 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) led the Wildcats to a 101-98 win over Adelaide.

Crawford (26.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.9 blocks across 28 games) again filled the stat sheet, leading Perth in scoring, steals and blocks while remaining the centrepiece of its high-scoring attack.

He delivered one of his best performances on March 25, with Crawford (37 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) making 16-of-22 field goals and all five free throws, but Newcastle escaped with a 119-117 win.

Crawford (38 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) made 15-of-24 field goals and 8-of-12 free throws against Melbourne on May 20, helping Perth defeat the Tigers 133-103 at the Superdrome.

His best game of the season came against former club Geelong on June 11, where Crawford (39 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 steals) made 17 field goals as the Wildcats recorded a 139-75 victory.

Perth completed the regular season against Hobart on July 8, with Crawford (30 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) leading the Wildcats to a 114-99 win.

The result left Perth sixth with a 13-11 record and the final playoff position, with the Wildcats remaining difficult to beat at home at 9-3 but struggling on the road at 4-8.

Pinder (21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals across 27 games) again led Perth in rebounding, while Bruton (15.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 26 games) and Ellis (7.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals across 28 games) shared the main ball-handling responsibilities.

Kuiper (15.5 points and 7.4 rebounds across 25 games) made an immediate impact in his first season with the Wildcats, while Torrance (12.4 points and 3.6 rebounds across 28 games) enjoyed a breakout year after increasing his production from 6.2 points in 18 minutes per game to 12.4 points in 27 minutes per game.

Crawford was named Perth’s club MVP for the second consecutive season and selected for the NBL All-Star Game.

Perth travelled to Brisbane for the elimination final, where Crawford (26 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 8 blocks) dominated defensively and Bruton (31 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Torrance (16 points and 7 rebounds) and Pinder (13 points and 21 rebounds) provided the support.

Leroy Loggins (31 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 steals) led Brisbane alongside Larry Sengstock (17 points and 10 rebounds) and Emery Atkinson (12 points and 8 rebounds), but the Wildcats eliminated the defending champions with a 113-98 win.

The semifinal series opened at the Perth Superdrome against North Melbourne, whose frontcourt was led by Scott Fisher and Tim Dillon.

Pinder (25 points), Torrance (19 points) and Bruton (12 points and 6 assists) led Perth’s scoring, while Dillon (26 points), Fisher (26 points) and Paul Graham (19 points) carried the Giants.

Crawford (13 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 6 blocks) protected the paint as Perth held on for a 108-105 victory and moved within one win of a second consecutive Grand Final.

Game two moved to the Glass House, where Dillon (46 points), Graham (37 points) and Fisher (20 points) powered North Melbourne, while Pinder (23 points), Crawford (22 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks), Kuiper (18 points) and Bruton (18 points) led Perth in a 137-113 loss.

The deciding game remained in Melbourne, where Dillon (44 points and 9 rebounds) and Ray O’Carroll (10 assists) led the Giants, while Pinder (40 points and 17 rebounds) and Ellis (10 assists) carried the Wildcats before North Melbourne won 134-111 and took the series 2-1. Crawford (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) played 26:23 minutes.

1989
Dan Hickert left the Wildcats, while Alan Black (retirement as player) replaced Cal Bruton as head coach, with the former player-coach remaining on the roster. James Crawford, Kendal Pinder, captain Mike Ellis, Trevor Torrance, Eric Watterson, Paul Kuiper, Scott Fenton and Steve Davis returned from the previous season. The new coach added Robbie Dempster (via Newcastle), Brett Ellis (via Stirling), Ned Coten and Craig Evans to complete the roster.

Perth opened the season at Apollo Stadium on April 22, where the Alabama Slamma (32 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) led the Wildcats, but Mark Davis (24 points, 16 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks), Mark Bradtke (24 points and 10 rebounds), Al Green (20 points and 2 steals) and Orlando Phillips (13 points and 10 rebounds) powered Adelaide to a 132-93 win.

Crawford (26.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.1 blocks) again carried Perth’s frontcourt alongside Pinder (21.1 points and 14.0 rebounds), while Bruton (22.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.3 steals), Mike Ellis (15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.0 steals) and Torrance (15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals) formed the main support. Steve Davis (8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds), Watterson (5.0 points, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Kuiper (4.0 points and 4.8 rebounds) provided depth, with Pinder leading the NBL in total rebounds and defensive rebounds and Mike Ellis leading the league in total assists.

On May 19, Crawford (34 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) delivered one of his best regular-season games as Perth defeated Eastside Melbourne 113-100, with Bruton (25 points and 5 assists), Pinder (24 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Steve Davis (17 points and 5 rebounds) providing support, while Kent Lockhart (33 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and Dean Uthoff (17 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 assists) were best for the Spectres.

Crawford (29 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 4 blocks) produced another dominant all-round game on June 23 as Perth defeated North Melbourne 116-104, with Bruton (30 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Pinder (29 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Mike Ellis (15 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) helping the Wildcats defeat the team which had eliminated them the previous season, while Scott Fisher (27 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Tim Dillon (26 points and 13 rebounds) led the Giants.

The season was rocked on August 21 by the deaths of Fenton (3.4 points across 13 games) and his fiancée Tina Christie, a WAIS Breakers player, after two cars reportedly racing without headlights struck their car at Hillarys, killing both instantly. Fenton’s #14 became the first jersey retired by the Wildcats, while Christie’s #4 was retired by the Breakers.

Perth closed the regular season by defeating Wollongong 123-119 on September 16, with Crawford (15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) contributing across the floor behind Bruton (42 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists), Torrance (23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks), Pinder (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Mike Ellis (12 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks). The Wildcats finished third at 16-8, recording the highest regular-season finish in club history after going 11-1 at home and 5-7 on the road.

Bruton won the Gordon Ellis Medal as Perth’s club MVP and was selected for the NBL All-Star game, but a hamstring strain saw him give his place to Mike Ellis. The campaign would become Bruton’s final season as a player before he moved into the general manager role, while Crawford and Pinder were naturalised at the end of 1989, allowing Perth to sign two new imports for the following season.

Perth opened the Elimination Finals at Apollo Stadium, where Bruton (35 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) finished as the game-high scorer, while Crawford (9 rebounds), Pinder (9 rebounds) and Mike Ellis (11 assists) led the Wildcats in other areas, but Adelaide escaped with a 124-122 win behind Davis (25 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals), Darryl Pearce (25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Phillips (23 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals), Mike McKay (20 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Bradtke (18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks).

Game two moved to the Perth Superdrome, where the Wildcats shot 51% from the field (42-of-82) and defeated Adelaide 114-94 behind Pinder (25 points and 14 rebounds) and Bruton (22 points and 5 assists), while Davis (22 points and 20 rebounds) produced a 20/20 game for the 36ers.

Game three remained in Perth, where Bruton (29 points and 7 rebounds), Pinder (14 rebounds) and Mike Ellis (8 assists) led the Wildcats to a 112-108 win, while Davis (34 points), Phillips (13 rebounds) and Pearce (5 assists) kept Adelaide close.

The semifinals opened at the Perth Superdrome against North Melbourne, the same team which had ended the Wildcats’ 1988 season, with Fisher (27 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists), Dillon (23 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists), Cecil Exum (21 points) and David Graham (21 points) leading the Giants to a 129-108 win, while Bruton (34 points and 3 steals), Pinder (19 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Crawford (16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) were best for Perth.

Game two moved to the Glass House, where Crawford (42 points, 19 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) delivered his best game of the season after being limited to 16 points in the opener, with Bruton (23 points, 3 rebounds, and 13 assists), Pinder (20 points, 21 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) and Torrance (13 points and 7 steals) helping Perth win 111-108, while Ray Borner (24 points and 11 rebounds), Fisher (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Dillon (21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) led North Melbourne.

North Melbourne blew the series open at the Glass House in game three and defeated Perth 165-110 by a 55-point margin, the highest score ever recorded in an NBL postseason game, as Dillon (40 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists), Fisher (32 points and 14 rebounds) and David Graham (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Giants, while captain Mike Ellis (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) top scored for the Wildcats.

1990
1990
Cal Bruton (retirement as player), Paul Kuiper and Ned Coten exited Perth’s playing roster, while the Wildcats entered the season without Scott Fenton, who had died during the previous campaign. James Crawford, Kendal Pinder, captain Mike Ellis, Trevor Torrance, Steve Davis and Eric Watterson returned after consecutive semifinal losses to North Melbourne.

Prominent West Australian businessman Kerry Stokes became co-owner of the franchise and moved the Wildcats from the Superdrome into the iconic 8,000-seat Perth Entertainment Centre.

The naturalisation of the Alabama Slamma and Tiny at the end of 1989 freed both import positions, while Bruton became general manager and looked to build a roster similar to Adelaide’s championship contenders of the mid-1980s by signing Oklahoma guard Ricky Grace (via Oklahoma), import Jeff Allen and rookie David Close (via AIS).

Perth opened the season in Geelong on March 30, where the Alabama Slamma (19 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) played 43:30 and helped the Wildcats defeat the Supercats 100-96.

The Wildcats lost 140-121 to Westside the following night despite the Alabama Slamma (23 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) playing 41:14, before Alan Black was controversially fired after only two games and replaced by Bruton.

Bruton’s appointment was met with negativity from players and supporters, who booed the new coach during introductions, and with Perth sitting at 6-4, tensions boiled over against Sydney when Jeff Arnold and Pinder (20.3 points and 9.9 rebounds) got physical at halftime before Bruton was ejected and a players-only meeting centred on removing him as coach.

Management told the players they needed to come together as a team and refused to remove Bruton during the season, although his position would be reviewed at the end of the year.

Crawford (23.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.1 blocks) remained Perth’s leading scorer and interior anchor, earning the Wildcats club MVP award during their first season at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

His first major scoring performance came against Brisbane on June 8, where Crawford (35 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) made 15 of his 19 field goal attempts, but the Bullets defeated Perth 112-101.

Crawford (41 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) delivered his season-high on August 25, making 15 field goals and 11 free throws as Canberra escaped with a 114-113 win at the AIS Arena.

He produced another 35-point game in Newcastle on September 8, with Crawford (35 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) playing 45:20 before the Falcons held on to defeat Perth 120-119.

The Wildcats entered the final round in danger of missing the playoffs, but Crawford (31 points, 19 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) controlled the paint as Perth defeated Brisbane 119-96 and secured fifth place with a 17-9 record.

Grace (21.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 2.6 steals) gave Perth a second high-scoring option and formed a strong backcourt with Ellis (14.0 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals), who also led the NBL by shooting 88.6% from the free throw line.

Close (9.1 points), Torrance (8.7 points and 3.4 rebounds), Allen (7.2 points and 7.7 rebounds) and Steve Davis (7.0 points) completed the main rotation as Perth finished 11-2 at home and 6-7 on the road.

Perth opened the Elimination Finals against a Melbourne team missing leading scorer Andrew Gaze, who had been hospitalised with a blood clot in his shoulder, with Crawford (23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), Grace (30 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Close (25 points and 6 rebounds) leading the Wildcats to a 122-100 win despite David Colbert (52 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals) producing a career-high for the Tigers.

Game two moved to the Glass House, where Crawford (25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks), Pinder (29 points and 7 rebounds) and Mike Ellis (10 assists) helped Perth defeat Melbourne 123-113, while Colbert (42 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Dave Simmons (29 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Tigers.

On the eve of the semifinals against North Melbourne, Pinder was arrested and spent the night in jail before returning to the team for the opening game without his teammates being aware of what had occurred.

Perth opened the semifinals at home with a 121-111 win behind Grace (39 points and 5 rebounds), Pinder (20 points and 14 rebounds), Mike Ellis (12 assists) and Crawford (20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks), while Scott Fisher (27 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists) led North Melbourne.

Game two moved to the Glass House, where Fisher (35 points and 14 rebounds) led the Giants to a 131-110 win, while Grace (25 points), Mike Ellis (7 assists) and Crawford (21 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) were Perth’s best as North Melbourne tied the series.

The deciding game remained in Melbourne, where Pinder (28 points and 13 rebounds), Grace (11 assists) and Crawford (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks) overcame Fisher (32 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 assists), with Crawford playing 51:10 as Perth defeated North Melbourne 112-110 in overtime.

The Grand Final series opened before a sold-out crowd of 8,200 at the Perth Entertainment Centre, where Grace (32 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks), Pinder (28 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Crawford (16 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth to a 112-106 win, while Derek Rucker (27 points and 10 assists) and Andre Moore (25 points and 14 rebounds) were best for Brisbane.

Game two moved to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre before an NBL-record crowd of 13,221, where Rucker (27 points and 7 assists) and Moore (13 rebounds) helped the Bullets control the game from the opening tip and defeat Perth 106-90, despite Crawford (22 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) leading the Wildcats.

Game three remained in Brisbane, where Grace (25 points and 7 assists) and Pinder (8 rebounds) led Perth, while Rucker (21 points and 5 assists) and Moore (9 rebounds) were Brisbane’s best as the Wildcats shot 70% from the field during the first half, built a 20-point lead by three-quarter time and became the first team to win the championship from fifth position, with Grace recognised as Grand Final MVP after averaging 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists across the series. Crawford (24 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks) controlled the middle as Perth defeated Brisbane 109-86 in game three.

1991
Import Jeff Allen was not retained after Perth’s first NBL championship, while Cal Bruton was controversially replaced as coach and returned solely to the general manager role. James Crawford, Ricky Grace, Kendal Pinder, Mike Ellis, David Close, Trevor Torrance and Steve Davis returned from the title-winning roster, with Murray Arnold replacing Bruton and recruiting Andrew Vlahov and Peter Hansen (via Perry Lakes Hawks). Arnold had previously worked as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls and introduced a defence-first system, marking a significant change from the high-scoring and entertaining style used under Bruton.

Perth opened its title defence at the Perth Entertainment Centre on April 13, where Crawford (20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) made 14-of-20 shots and finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks as the Wildcats defeated Illawarra 120-91 and began Arnold’s tenure with a 29-point victory.

Six days later in Melbourne, Crawford (31 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 4 blocks) delivered his first 30-point game of the season, but Southern Melbourne edged Perth 110-107 and handed the Wildcats their first loss.

His best scoring game came at the Perth Entertainment Centre on May 24, when Crawford (37 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) made 17-of-26 shots as Perth defeated Eastside 98-80, producing his highest-scoring performance of the season against the team that would eventually meet the Wildcats in the Grand Final.

Crawford (26 points, 21 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) delivered his best rebounding game against Canberra on July 6, controlling the paint as Perth defeated the Cannons 92-79, while Jamie Kennedy (26 points) led Canberra.

On August 2, Crawford (30 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) made 12-of-19 shots against North Melbourne, matching Paul Maley (30 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists) for game-high scoring as Perth defeated the Giants 109-101, while Ray Borner (26 points and 12 rebounds) was also strong for North Melbourne.

Perth closed the regular season at Apollo Stadium on September 21, where Crawford (25 points, 12 rebounds, and 1 assist) made 11-of-15 shots as the Wildcats edged Adelaide 99-98, won their eighth consecutive game and finished first with a 22-4 record.

Grace (22.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 2.5 steals) led Perth in scoring and assists, while Crawford was second in scoring and led the team in blocks. Hansen (16.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals), Vlahov (15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals), Pinder (12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds), Close (7.9 points) and Mike Ellis (6.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals) gave Arnold a deep rotation which finished 12-1 at home and 10-3 away. Grace was selected to the All-NBL Team, Vlahov was named Rookie of the Year and Arnold won Coach of the Year.

Perth opened the semifinals at Apollo Stadium on October 5, where Crawford (16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal), Grace (24 points and 8 assists) and Pinder (10 rebounds) led the Wildcats to a 102-99 win, while Mike McKay (23 points), Mark Bradtke (11 rebounds) and Butch Hays (9 assists) were Adelaide’s best.

Game two moved to the Perth Entertainment Centre, where Crawford (17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) protected the rim, while Grace (27 points and 9 assists) and Close (17 points) led the scoring as Perth defeated Adelaide 105-104 and completed the sweep. Hays (23 points and 8 assists), Bradtke (9 rebounds) and Mark Davis (9 rebounds) kept the 36ers within one point.

The Grand Final series opened at the Glass House in Melbourne, where Crawford (8 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Grace (21 points and 7 assists) and Vlahov (11 rebounds) helped Perth defeat Eastside 109-83, while Bruce Bolden (22 points), Dean Uthoff (13 rebounds) and Darren Perry (8 assists) led the Spectres.

Game two moved before a sold-out crowd of 8,200 at the Perth Entertainment Centre, where Crawford (0 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals) remained active on the glass and defensively, while Grace (17 points and 7 assists) and Vlahov (11 rebounds) led Perth. Bolden (25 points), Kent Lockhart (12 rebounds), Perry (4 assists) and Uthoff (4 assists) helped Eastside win 86-81 and level the series.

Game three was played less than 48 hours later at the Perth Entertainment Centre, where Crawford (19 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), Pinder (19 points) and Hansen (18 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) led Perth, while Mike Ellis (7 assists) directed the offence. Bolden (29 points and 15 rebounds) carried Eastside and Lockhart (4 assists) led its playmaking. Perth won 90-80 to become the third team in NBL history to win back-to-back championships, with Hansen named Grand Final MVP after averaging 17.3 points across the three games.

1992
In 1992, Crawford averaged 19.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists as the Wildcats finished with a record of 12-12 and in seventh place during the regular season.

1993
In 1993, Crawford averaged 21.2 points and 9.3 rebounds, and helped guide the Wildcat’s to a first place finish in the regular season with a 21-5 record.

1994
1994 saw Perth return with almost their entire roster (all bar the retiring Steve Davis) after falling short against Melbourne in the previous year’s Grand Final. In a effort to build towards the future, however, up and coming talent in the form of AIS graduate Aaron Trahair and CJ Bruton, son of Wildcats’ legend Cal, were added to the roster.

Perth started the season by winning their first three games and sat atop the NBL ladder with a record of 7-2 after the first five rounds. Around the halfway mark of the season, Perth suffered losses to Brisbane (127–126), Hobart (93–92) and South East Melbourne (112–94), which saw them drop down to the middle of the ladder with a record of 10-5. Whilst many believed the Wildcats would rebound from the Grand Final loss and be among the league’s top team’s, they struggled to replicate last season’s form. Whilst they would show signs of brilliance, as they did in their beat down of Melbourne in Round 18 (131–108), they also lost to multiple team’s that weren’t even in the playoff picture, as they did the very next round, suffering a home loss to the Newcastle Falcons (83–92).

Scott Fisher (20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals) led the team in scoring for the second year in a row, with the Wildcats’other key players Ricky Grace (18.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.5 steals), James Crawford (18.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks) and Andrew Vlahov (17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.1 steals) putting up great numbers all season but Perth was unable to recapture the success of the previous season. Rookies Trahair (5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) and Bruton (4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists) showed enough to get fans excited about the future.

Perth finished the season with a record equal to Sydney (16-10) but was given the higher playoff seed (sixth) thanks to a 2-0 head-to-head record against the Kings. In the quarterfinals, Perth would face South East Melbourne, who outclassed them in game one, winning by 31 points (113-82). With the series then returning to Melbourne, the Magic defeated them by 14 points (100-86) to end the Wildcats season prematurely.

1995
Coming off a disappointing season where falling one game short of a championship in 1993, Perth barely made the playoffs. Coach Adrian Hurley stepped into this season with rumours suggesting the team would be dismantled if they didn’t get it done this year. Despite this, minimal changes were the roster, with Hurley putting his faith into Perth’s younger players and their expected improvement. The only changes he made to the squad were bringing in Anthony Stewart (via Hobart), to replace the outgoing Trevor Torrance (to Gold Coast), CJ Bruton (US college), and Eric Watterson (retirement).

Team captain Andrew Vlahov (20.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals) would deliver his best season, becoming the team’s leading scorer and rebounder and the Wildcats’other young talent, Aaron Trahair (9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Martin Cattalini (9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds) both delivered the best seasons of their career so far. The addition of Stewart (10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals) made a huge difference to the Wildcats playing style, with his ability to hit the three creating more room in the low post for Vlahov, Scott Fisher and James Crawford and Andrew Vlahov to operate in. This also allowed veteran players Ricky Grace (18.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.7 steals), Scott Fisher (19.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) and James Crawford (15.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) to play slightly reduced roles and be rested and energised when it came time to deliver in the big games.

Hurley would rely on a eight-man rotation for the majority of the year, and thanks to a four-game winning streak to end the season, they were about to finish first (by one game) during the regular season. Perth then faced a rematch with Melbourne in the quarterfinals, with the eighth seeded Tigers surprising Wildcats with a (91-103) loss behind big games from Andrew Gaze (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Lanard Copeland (29 points). In game two, Vlahov (30 points and 11 rebounds) equalled his season high for points in a game and made sure the Tigers didn’t end their season early with a nine point victory (108-99). The Wildcats closed out the series with a win in game three (96-92) with all five starters, Crawford (20 points), Vlahov (18 points), Grace (18 points), Scott Fisher (17 points) and Cattalini (11 points) all scoring in double figures.

In the semifinals, Perth faced off against Adelaide where they couldn’t stop their star import Robert Rose (27 points in game one and 22 points in game two), but were able to lock down almost every other player on the 36ers roster. Scott Fisher led the team in scoring in both games, backing up his 27 points and 7 rebounds in Perth’s game one win (94-78), with 26 points and 9 rebounds in game two (85-76).

Perth would face the reigning NBL champions North Melbourne in the Grand Final series, losing their home opener (94-107) thanks to the sharpshooting of Giants stars Chris Jent (29 points and 7 assists), Rod Johnson (21 points and 3 assists), Pat Riedy (21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists) and Darryl McDonald (18 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals). James Crawford (24 points and 9 rebounds) would top score for the Wildcats.

The series shifted to Melbourne for game two, and with Perth trailing 53-45 at half-time and facing elimination, coach Hurley noticed hundreds of balloons in the ceiling and said to Vlahov,’ Look Andrew, the Giants are ready to celebrate, they think they’ve got it won’. That was enough to motivate Vlahov (29 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists) to be unstoppable for the remainder of the game, keeping the Wildcats championship hopes alive. Jent (28 points and 8 rebounds) top scoring again for the Giants in the nine point Wildcats win (97-88).

The Wildcats continued their strong defensive effort in game three, holding the Giants to 15 points in the first quarter while scoring 30 themselves. North Melbourne’s leading scorer Chris Jent was limited to 5/14 shooting, and Perth forced the entire Giants squad to shoot 38% from the field (29/77 shots).

Coach Hurley’s plan to rest the team’s veterans also seemed to pay off, with 35-year-old James Crawford (32 points on 83% field goal shooting, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks) proving unstoppable inside. Perth closed things out with a blowout victory (108-88) that saw them win their third championship in six years behind a dominant season that saw them win the ‘Triple Crown’, the pre-season, regular season and the Grand Final series all in the same year.

Andrew Vlahov, who had recently been named in the league’s All-NBL First Team, was awarded the Finals MVP after averaging 24 points per game over the three games.

The Wildcats had little time to celebrate, boarding a flight to take part in the McDonald’s Championships in London, where they would face the NBA champions Houston Rockets. The Wildcats would go down 116-72, but Vlahov (15 points) and Fisher (18 points, 12 rebounds) played well in a game that was the most viewed TV game featuring a NBL team in Australian basketball history.

Perth then played Euroleague champions Real Madrid to determine third place in the tournament. Real Madrid was without star Arvydas Sabonis, but Perth took it to Europe’s best at the time and won 93-86. Grace (26 points and 7 assists), Crawford (26 points) and Vlahov (12 points and 11 rebounds) finished as Perth’s leading scorers.

1996

During the 1996 season, Crawford averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists and was a part of the Wildcat’s squad which finished in third place with a record of 16-10.

1997
In 1997 Crawford averaged 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds, and helped guide the Wildcat’s to a fourth place finish in the regular season with a 17-13 record.

1998
In 1998, Crawford averaged 16 points and 6.4 rebounds, and helped guide the Wildcat’s to a third place finish in the regular season with a 17-13 record.

1999

In 1999 Crawford averaged 6.2 points and 3 rebounds, and helped guide the Wildcat’s to a sixth-place finish during the regular season with a 13-13 record.

CANBERRA CANNONS
2002/03
After Canberra entered voluntary administration and lost several players, three-time NBL champion and Perth Wildcats legend James Crawford came out of retirement to help former teammate and Cannons coach Cal Bruton field a team during the club’s compressed schedule.

Crawford (2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds across 1 game) made his only appearance against Perth on January 18, scoring 2 points and grabbing 2 rebounds in 12:16 minutes as the Wildcats defeated Canberra 119-97.

The Cannons went 4-17 after their 7-2 start, finishing ninth with an 11-19 record before the licence was sold to a Newcastle-based ownership group and relocated as the Hunter Pirates.

Crawford played in 13 NBL seasons, with 371 of his 504 career NBL games in Perth, etching himself into legendary status.

He currently sits third on the NBL’s all time NBL scorers with 11,121 points, scoring at a average of 22.1 per game. He also appears third amongst the NBL’s all-time leading rebounders with 4,794 (9.5 per game), behind only Mark Bradtke and Mark Davis and is second in blocked shots with 788 (1.5 per game).

Crawford was a four time winner of Perth’s club MVP award and was the only Perth player to feature in the Wildcat’s first 12 trips to the postseason. Crawford, deservingly so, was selected as part of the NBL’s 25th Anniversary Team (named 2003).James Crawford played nineteen seasons across four NBL teams. This included the Geelong Cats, Perth Wildcats and Canberra Cannons. He averaged 22 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 504 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 14th in total games played.
– 3rd in total points
– 3rd in total rebounds
– 21st in total steals
– 2nd in total blocks
– 47th in blocks per game.

HIGHLIGHTS: