BIO: Doolittle was born in Edmond, Oklahoma where he played basketball for Edmond Memorial High School. During his freshman season, he played with his future college teammate Jordan Woodard and won the Class 6A state title.

As a sophomore, Doolittle averaged 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. In his junior season, he averaged 17.5 points and a Class 6A-high 12 rebounds per game, earning first-team all-conference, The Oklahoman Super Five and Class 6A all-state honours.

As a senior, Doolittle averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists per game and led Memorial to the Class 6A state quarterfinals. He was named to the USA Today All-USA Oklahoma first team. Doolittle finished his career as his school’s all-time leader in points, rebounds and games played. A four-star recruit and the top player from Oklahoma in the 2016 class, he committed to play college basketball when he was a junior in high school

NBL EXPERIENCE

Kristian Doolittle made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 35 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

After finishing sixth and being eliminated by Cairns during the 2023 play-in tournament, Perth reshaped its roster for John Rillie’s second season as head coach. Luke Travers (to Melbourne), Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra), Mitch Norton (to Brisbane), TaShawn Thomas and Brady Manek departed, while Keanu Pinder (via Cairns), Hyrum Harris (via Adelaide), David Okwera (via Melbourne), import Jordan Usher, Next Star Alexandre Sarr and rookie Ben Henshall were added. Captain Jesse Wagstaff and guards Bryce Cotton, Tai Webster and Corey Webster returned.

Three days before the season opener, Perth completed its import group by signing Kristian Doolittle after his move to French club Limoges ended before the season began. Doolittle arrived in Perth during game week, with the Wildcats targeting his defence, rebounding and ability to play as an offensive connector.

Perth opened at RAC Arena on September 29, where Doolittle (4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) played 18 minutes from the bench as the Wildcats defeated Tasmania 101-95. Usher (35 points and 3 rebounds) produced the highest-scoring debut in Wildcats history and Cotton (21 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) provided support, while Jack McVeigh (22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) led the JackJumpers.

Doolittle (9 points and 6.7 rebounds across 29 games) developed into one of Perth’s most valuable and reliable contributors, leading the team in rebounding while recording four double-doubles and shooting 43 per cent from the field. He was regularly assigned the opposition’s toughest perimeter or forward matchup, defending guards for the length of the court before switching onto larger players when required.

The late arrival contributed to a difficult opening month as Perth lost five of its next six games and Doolittle did not reach double figures until November. His role became more settled as the Wildcats moved Usher to the bench, promoted Harris into the starting lineup and gave Doolittle greater freedom to attack from the mid-range and create for teammates.

Doolittle’s best scoring game came against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on November 18, where he finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal as Perth recovered from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 79-76 and complete a five-game winning streak. Cotton (25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Harris (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) provided support, while Chris Smith (23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Brisbane. Doolittle also pressured Nathan Sobey (13 points) for the length of the court and made consecutive contested baskets during Perth’s late comeback.

His best rebounding performance came in Cairns on Boxing Day, where Doolittle collected 17 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block as Perth defeated the Taipans 105-102. Cotton (33 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) carried the scoring and Pinder (14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) provided support, while Bobi Klintman (24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) led Cairns. Doolittle controlled the glass and delivered several important defensive possessions late, leading Rillie to place him among the league’s leading defensive players.

Doolittle dealt with several injury niggles during the campaign but returned each time and remained central to Perth’s defensive structure. Across the six games in which he scored at least 15 points, including the postseason, the Wildcats won five.

Cotton (22.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals across 30 games) led the NBL in scoring and collected his fourth league MVP award, while Pinder (13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across 31 games) provided the second scoring option. Usher (12.3 points and 3.4 rebounds across 31 games) embraced a sixth-man role and Sarr (9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 27 games) displayed his NBA potential.

Tai Webster (8.9 points across 28 games), Wagstaff (6.5 points and 3 rebounds across 28 games), Corey Webster (6.1 points across 20 games) and Harris (5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds across 30 games) rounded out the rotation as Perth finished second with a 17-11 record. Doolittle received the Andrew Vlahov Medal as the Wildcats’ Best Defensive Player and placed third in Gordon Ellis Medal voting behind Cotton and Pinder.

Perth opened its semifinal series against Tasmania at RAC Arena on March 8, where Doolittle (9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Pinder (25 points and 7 rebounds) and Cotton (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Wildcats to an 89-81 victory. Jordon Crawford (19 points and 3 assists), McVeigh (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Marcus Lee (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) were Tasmania’s leading performers.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Doolittle (20 points and 9 rebounds) produced his best game of the series and Cotton (26 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) led Perth’s scoring, but Milton Doyle (24 points and 6 rebounds), McVeigh (22 points and 5 rebounds) and Majok Deng (18 points and 5 rebounds) helped Tasmania win 102-94 and force a deciding game.

Game three returned to RAC Arena, where Doolittle (9 points and 3 rebounds), Cotton (21 points and 4 rebounds) and Harris (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth. McVeigh (27 points and 6 rebounds), Doyle (24 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) and Will Magnay (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block) controlled the game for Tasmania as the JackJumpers won 100-84.

A week after Perth’s elimination, the Wildcats showed their faith in Doolittle by re-signing him for the 2024/25 season.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to return to the Wildcats for NBL25 as we look to go a step closer to winning a 11th NBL Championship,” Doolittle said.

“I really enjoyed my first season with the club under coach John Rillie and playing in front of the Red Army.”

2024/25
After
Following their semifinal loss to Tasmania, Perth farewelled Alexandre Sarr (to Washington), Jordan Usher (to France), Corey Webster (to Auckland) and Kyle Zunic (to Keilor). John Rillie returned for his third season as head coach and retained captain Jesse Wagstaff, Bryce Cotton, Keanu Pinder, Kristian Doolittle, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris, Ben Henshall and David Okwera, while adding Elijah Pepper (via UC Davis), Next Star Izan Almansa (via G League Ignite) and Dylan Windler (via Atlanta). Michael Harris was promoted from the development roster, with Dontae Russo-Nance and Thomas Gerovich added as development players.

Perth had initially brought Doolittle back for NBL25 on the one-year extension agreed during the previous regular season. “I’m excited for the opportunity to return to the Wildcats for NBL25 as we look to go a step closer to winning a 11th NBL Championship,” Doolittle said. “I really enjoyed my first season with the club under coach John Rillie and playing in front of the Red Army.” His performances during the campaign later earned him a new three-year deal through the end of the 2027/28 season.

Perth opened the season against South East Melbourne during HoopsFest at RAC Arena on September 20, where Doolittle (9 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks) helped the Wildcats win 106-98, with Pinder (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Cotton (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) leading Perth while Jordan Hunter (19 points and 7 rebounds) was the Phoenix’s best.

Doolittle (14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across 24 games) increased his production during his second season and led Perth in rebounding while giving the Wildcats another playmaker and a versatile defender capable of matching up across several positions.

His season was interrupted when he suffered a groin injury just 57 seconds into Perth’s December 6 game against Illawarra. Doolittle later explained, “I felt a pop in my groin and knew it wasn’t good.” He missed the next five games after being ruled out for two to three weeks, with Todd Withers (via Warwick) remaining with the team as a nominated replacement player.

Doolittle returned under a minutes restriction before producing 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists in 24:08 against Adelaide at RAC Arena on January 17, helping Perth win 110-103 and collect its fifth consecutive victory. Cotton (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Henshall (14 points) supported Doolittle, while Kendric Davis (31 points and 10 assists) led Adelaide. Doolittle also moved onto Davis defensively after the guard scored 21 first-half points and helped limit him to 10 after halftime.

Doolittle’s best regular-season scoring game came against Melbourne on January 22, where he finished with 33 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks as Perth fell 99-93 at RAC Arena. Cotton (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Pinder (10 points and 7 rebounds) provided support, while Jack White (26 points and 16 rebounds) led United.

Cotton (28.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 24 games) and Pinder (15.1 points and 6.3 rebounds across 25 games) led Perth offensively, while Windler (11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 24 games), Henshall (9.8 points and 3.2 rebounds across 28 games), Webster (8.2 points across 16 games), Almansa (7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds across 29 games), Pepper (7.5 points across 29 games) and Withers (5.8 points across 14 games) completed the main rotation. Cotton won his fifth Andrew Gaze Trophy and received the Gordon Ellis Medal as club MVP, while Doolittle won the Eric Watterson Medal as Players’ Player and the Andrew Vlahov Medal as Perth’s Best Defensive Player for the second consecutive season. Henshall was named Most Improved and Hyrum Harris (2.9 points across 26 games) received the Coaches’ Award.

Perth closed the regular season against Adelaide at RAC Arena on February 7, where Doolittle (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists) directed the offence as the Wildcats won 112-104, with Cotton (49 points and 7 assists) and Pinder (18 points and 11 rebounds) leading Perth while Davis (34 points and 8 assists) was Adelaide’s best. The Wildcats finished third with an 18-11 record.

The postseason opened against South East Melbourne at the Perth High-Performance Centre, where Doolittle (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists), Pinder (35 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) and Cotton (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth to a 122-105 win. Angus Glover (25 points and 2 steals), Matt Hurt (24 points and 3 steals) and Nathan Sobey (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) were the Phoenix’s best as the Wildcats advanced to the semifinals.

Game one moved to John Cain Arena, where Pinder (24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists), Doolittle (22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Cotton (22 points and 6 assists) led Perth, while Chris Goulding (41 points), Ian Clark (22 points) and White (13 points and 10 rebounds) carried Melbourne to a 105-93 win.

Perth recovered from a 20-point deficit in game two at RAC Arena, with Windler (27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks), Doolittle (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Cotton (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) driving a 96-89 victory. Goulding (15 points), Matthew Dellavedova (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists), White (13 points and 6 rebounds) and Clark (13 points) led Melbourne before the Wildcats forced a deciding third game.

Doolittle’s best game of the season came in the deciding semifinal at John Cain Arena, where he made 13-of-21 field goals and four three-pointers to finish with 37 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Cotton (33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals), Pinder (15 points and 5 rebounds) and Windler (13 points and 7 rebounds) supported Doolittle, while Clark (38 points), Goulding (30 points and 4 rebounds), White (15 points and 9 rebounds) and Dellavedova (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists) led Melbourne. Wagstaff (3 points and 4 rebounds) tied the scores with a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining, but Henshall (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was called for a foul on Goulding with 0.8 seconds left. Goulding made the first free throw and deliberately missed the second as Melbourne defeated Perth 113-112 and won the series 2-1.

2025/26
One point separated Perth from the Championship Series in 2024/25, with Melbourne winning the deciding semifinal 113-112. Doolittle committed to the Wildcats on a new three-year deal before five-time league MVP Bryce Cotton (to Adelaide), Keanu Pinder (to Akita), Hyrum Harris (to Kanazawa), Michael Harris (to Adelaide) and Izan Almansa (to Madrid) departed.

John Rillie returned for his fourth season as head coach, retaining Dylan Windler, Ben Henshall, Elijah Pepper, captain Jesse Wagstaff, David Okwera, Dontae Russo-Nance and Thomas Gerovich. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (via Alexandria), Sunday Dech (via Adelaide), Lat Mayen (via Adelaide), Mason Jones (via Stockton), Jaron Rillie (via Northern Colorado), Next Star Noa Kouakou-Heugue (via France) and development player Cameron Huefner (via Sam Houston State) joined the roster.

Perth opened the season at RAC Arena on September 20, where Doolittle (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist) contributed as Jones (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led the Wildcats, but Bryce Hamilton (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) carried Tasmania to a 75-72 win.

Doolittle (17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 37 games) became Perth’s leading scorer and primary offensive playmaker following Cotton’s departure, leading the Wildcats in scoring, rebounding and assists while regularly accepting the toughest defensive assignment.

Doolittle (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) made five three-pointers against Tasmania at RAC Arena on November 21 as Perth won 101-95, with Lual-Acuil Jr (19 points and 8 rebounds) and Duke Jr (19 points and 4 assists) providing support, while Josh Bannan (29 points and 9 rebounds) led the JackJumpers.

A month later, Doolittle (30 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) delivered another dominant performance against Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena, with Duke Jr (16 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals) and Lual-Acuil Jr (12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) helping Perth win 94-85 on December 21, while Hamilton (25 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the JackJumpers.

His best scoring game came against Cairns at RAC Arena on February 6, where Doolittle (32 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) made four three-pointers and combined with Lual-Acuil Jr (27 points and 6 rebounds) and Windler (11 points and 11 rebounds) to lead Perth to a 98-84 win, while Andrew Andrews (25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists) was Cairns’ best. The victory was Perth’s third in succession and lifted the Wildcats into fourth place with a 19-11 record.

After beginning the season 3-2, Perth released Jones (11.4 points across five games) and signed David Duke Jr (via San Antonio) as his replacement. Duke Jr (12.1 points and 3.2 assists across 19 games) added scoring, ball handling and defensive pressure before an elbow injury sidelined him for eight weeks.

Lual-Acuil Jr (16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 37 games) formed Perth’s leading offensive combination with Doolittle, while Windler (13 points and 6.8 rebounds across 32 games), Pepper (10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds across 37 games), Henshall (8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds across 34 games) and Jaron Rillie (8.1 points across 14 games) provided the other main scoring contributions.

Doolittle earned All-NBL First Team honours and polled in the top three for both the Andrew Gaze Trophy and Damian Martin Trophy before winning his first Gordon Ellis Medal as Perth’s club MVP and the Wildcats’ Defensive Player of the Year award. Wagstaff (3.2 points across 35 games) received the Watto Award as Players’ Player, Okwera (5 points and 3 rebounds across 34 games) was named Most Improved and Gerovich (0 points across five games) received the Coaches Award.

Perth closed the regular season against Adelaide at RAC Arena on February 20, where Doolittle (5 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals) controlled the offence as Pepper (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (21 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) led the scoring, while Nick Rakocevic (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) was Adelaide’s best. The Wildcats recovered from an early nine-point deficit to win 86-74 and secured fourth place with a 21-12 record.

Perth opened the postseason against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on March 4, where Doolittle (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists), Windler (13 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Lual-Acuil Jr (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) led the Wildcats, while Nathan Sobey (24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals), Owen Foxwell (18 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals) and Ian Clark (16 points) carried the Phoenix to a 111-94 win in the Seeding Qualifier.

Three days later, Doolittle (24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Lual-Acuil Jr (28 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks) controlled the game against Melbourne, with Windler (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) also providing support. Milton Doyle (13 points), Tyson Walker (12 points) and Jesse Edwards (12 points and 8 rebounds) led United, but Perth outscored Melbourne 51-24 after half-time to win 95-77 at RAC Arena and advance to the semifinals.

Game one moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Doolittle (31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) scored 27 points during the second half, with Duke Jr (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (19 points and 12 rebounds) helping Perth erase a nine-point deficit. Kendric Davis (35 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Torrey Craig (20 points and 9 rebounds) and Matthew Dellavedova (11 points and 3 assists) led Sydney, with the Kings surviving several attempts from Perth’s final possession to win 105-104.

With Windler ruled out by a plantar fascia injury, game two returned to RAC Arena, where Henshall (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Lual-Acuil Jr (9 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led Perth, while Davis (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), Makuach Maluach (23 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Craig (12 points and 7 rebounds) carried Sydney to an 89-75 win that completed the semifinal sweep, with Doolittle (15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) playing 38:23 minutes in the loss.

Kristian Doolittle currently plays for the Perth Wildcats and has played 90 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 13.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3 assists since entering the league in 2023.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Perth Wildcats – 3 Year Deal (2025-28)