Bryce Cotton

Bryce Cotton

  • Nationality: USA
  • Date of Birth: 11/08/92
  • Place of Birth: Tucson, Arizona (USA)
  • Position: GRD
  • Height (CM): 182
  • Weight (KG): 75
  • Junior Assoc: None
  • College: Providence (2010–2014)
  • NBL DEBUT: 7/01/17
  • AGE AT DEBUT: 24
  • LAST NBL GAME: 10/10/24
  • AGE AT LAST GAME: 32
  • NBL History: Perth 2017-25
  • Championships: 3
  • Perth (2017, 2019-20)

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BIO: Bryce Jiron Cotton was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona (USA). Cotton’s parents separated when he was a toddler and his father worked as a police officer on the other side of the country. Money was tight and Adams often provided them with financial assistance during tough times. Cotton’s grandmother, Mary, helped raise him and his brother Justin while their mother worked in real estate.

Cotton loved sports as a child, playing basketball, football and baseball. Due to suffering from a rare form of epilepsy, he was advised during fifth grade to no longer play football due to the high risk of head injuries which could lead to seizures. Focusing on basketball, one of Cotton’s biggest deficiencies was his lack of height. Cotton’s parents separated when he was a toddler and his father worked as a police officer on the other side of the country. Money was tight and Adams often provided them with financial assistance during tough times.

Cotton’s grandmother, Mary, helped raise him and his brother Justin while their mother worked in real estate.

After spending his junior year in Las Vegas, Cotton completed secondary school at Palo Verde High School in Tucson. Cotton helped lead Palo Verde to a 24–7 record and a berth in the state 4A semi finals in the 2009/10 season. He averaged 23.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.7 steals per game as a senior, and scored 30 or more points nine times, including a career-high 40 points in a 85–82 win over Buckeye on February 16, 2010. He also set a school record for the highest triple-double with 37 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against Rio Rico on December 11, 2009. He earned First Team All-City and First Team All-State honours in 2010. He also had perfect grades and a high GPA.

Cotton was not highly recruited out of high school. He was turned down by Montana State and Northern Arizona, and was later also turned away by Division II school Chico State. He also reportedly tried to obtain a scholarship from Houston Baptist.

FAMILY: Cotton is the son of Yvonne and Charles Cotton. He has one brother, Justin Tarpley, and two half-brothers, Chaz Cotton and Elijah Cotton. One of his brothers died by suicide in 2021.

His uncle, David Adams, played football at the University of Arizona and had a short stint with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.

Cotton’s wife Rachel, who is from Perth, gave birth to the couple’s first child in 2019.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Bryce Cotton made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 24 years of age. He scored 26 points in his first game.

Prior to Cotton’s arrival in Perth, the Wildcats were experiencing one of their worst starts in NBL history. The team had fallen to last place in December with a 7–9 record, struggling under long-term injuries to Damian Martin, Jarrod Kenny, and Matthew Knight.

Import Jaron Johnson initially took the fall for the Wildcats’ poor start, replaced by three-point specialist Andre Ingram just three games into the season. However, in an unusual turn of events, Ingram departed after only two games, citing mental health reasons, prompting Johnson’s return. Despite Johnson’s reinstatement, it was a temporary fix, and he was ultimately released again in December when Perth seized the opportunity to sign former NBA guard Bryce Cotton. Around this time, Perth legend Shawn Redhage also announced that the 2016/17 season would be his last in the NBL.

Throughout these roster upheavals, Casey Prather continued to shoulder the offensive burden for the Wildcats, notching a career-high 39 points in a tight win over Melbourne (92–89) in December. In early February, Prather recorded 29 points in a dominant win over Sydney (101–74), followed by a 26-point, career-high 11-assist performance in a close victory over Melbourne United (96–94). Martin’s return from injury saw him reach his 250th NBL game milestone, scoring a season-high 11 points, alongside 6 rebounds and 4 assists, as Perth defeated Melbourne once again (73–71).

Cotton made an immediate impact in his NBL debut, setting a Wildcats record with 26 points against the Sydney Kings, surpassing James Ennis’ 25-point debut with the Wildcats in 2013. By his fifth game, Cotton had hit a season-high 27 points in an overtime win over Cairns (84–78). With Cotton in the lineup, the Wildcats transformed, winning eight of their last twelve regular-season games, including two must-win matches that secured their playoff spot in fourth place (15-13).

Cotton finished the season as the league’s leading scorer with averages of 23.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals, while Prather (19.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals) was named runner-up for the NBL MVP award (behind Adelaide’s Jerome Randle) and earned a spot on the NBL First Team.

In game one of the Wildcats’ best-of-three semi-final series against the second-seeded Taipans in Cairns, Cotton erupted for 34 points, leading Perth to a decisive 91–69 win. His 34 points marked the highest post-season scoring effort by a Wildcat since Shawn Redhage’s 35 points in 2008, and Cotton also contributed a team-high five assists and three steals. In game two back in Perth, Cotton scored nine points as the Wildcats defeated Cairns 74–66, sweeping the series to advance to the NBL Grand Final.

In the Grand Final series, 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) led a balanced offensive attack, securing a 12-point win in game one (89-77). The series then moved to Wollongong for game two, but Perth maintained their playoff dominance with another 89–77 victory. Cotton (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Prather (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the scoring, supported by five Wildcats players in double figures.

In game three, Perth clinched the title with a commanding 95–86 win, remaining undefeated throughout the postseason and capturing their eighth NBL championship. This marked the Wildcats’ first back-to-back titles since 1991.

Several record-breaking moments defined the game three victory, most notably with Bryce Cotton’s phenomenal 45-point performance—an NBL Grand Final record. His 27.7 points per game across the Grand Final series was the highest scoring average in a Grand Final series in 20 years, earning him the Grand Final MVP honors.

2017/18
After a brief stint in the NBA Summer League, Cotton chose to re-sign with the Wildcats for the 2017–18 NBL season on 14 July 2017, despite significant interest from European powerhouse Unicaja Málaga. His contract became the highest in NBL history at the time, valued around $600,000.

However, Perth was dealt a blow when two-time Club MVP Casey Prather pursued NBA opportunities and eventually joined Melbourne. Initially, Perth signed Devondrick Walker as Prather’s replacement, but a foot injury sidelined Walker before he could make his NBL debut. Walker was replaced by JP Tokoto. Other roster moves included Derek Cooke Jr. stepping in for Jameel McKay and Lucas Walker being promoted to a full-time role to replace the retired Shawn Redhage.

Veteran Matthew Knight (5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) announced plans to retire at season’s end but decided to step away earlier in November after three head knocks, ending his season after just five games.

Cotton’s season took off with a 36-point game on 10 December in a win over Illawarra (99–91), propelling Perth to the top of the standings with a 10-3 record. However, the Wildcats faced a setback when Damian Martin (4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals) injured his ankle, missing two games. Further injuries to Clint Steindl (2.8 points, 1.3 rebounds) and Greg Hire (2.1 points, 2 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) contributed to the team’s mid-season slump, dropping their record to 13–9 by January. Despite criticisms of Cooke Jr. (5.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists), who many fans felt underperformed, the Wildcats stuck with their roster. Returning to full strength, Perth finished the regular season strong, securing third place on the ladder with a 16–12 record.

Damian Martin was named Best Defensive Player for a record sixth time, while Tokoto (15.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals) earned a spot on the All-NBL Second Team. Cotton (19.8 points, 3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals) led the league in scoring and three-point shooting (84 of 187, 44.9%), joining the All-NBL First Team and earning MVP honors, becoming the third Wildcat to win the award after Paul Rogers (2000) and Kevin Lisch (2012).

In the semi-finals, the Wildcats fell to the second-seeded Adelaide 36ers. Game one was a 109–74 defeat, marking Perth’s second-largest finals loss, surpassed only by a 55-point loss in 1989 to North Melbourne. Despite a much tighter contest in game two, Perth lost by a single point (88–89), ending their season early.

2018/19
During the off-season, Perth secured Cotton with a new three-year deal and added Nick Kay and Mitch Norton (both via Illawarra), Tom Jervis (via Brisbane), and new import Terrico White. This reshuffle saw the departure of Lucas Walker, Jarrod Kenny, and Dexter Kernich-Drew, all of whom signed with Cairns, while Rhys Vague was elevated from a development player to the full roster.

The Wildcats traveled to the U.S. for pre-season games against the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets. Despite a heavy loss to the Jazz (130–72), Coach Trevor Gleeson viewed it as a catalyst for their season. Perth then narrowly lost to the Nuggets (96–88), gaining valuable experience that helped set the tone for their season.

Starting the season at 10–1, Perth’s momentum was disrupted by injuries to captain Damian Martin (5.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals), who missed six games due to a calf tear, and Angus Brandt (8.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists), who missed three games due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for the Australian Boomers. By mid-January, the Wildcats had dropped eight of their next ten games, bringing their record to 12–9.

Despite pressure to make roster changes, Perth retained its roster, finishing the season strong with three consecutive wins over Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney, reclaiming the top spot with an 18–10 record.

Cotton (21.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals) won his second NBL MVP title, while Kay (14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists) enjoyed a career-best season. Both players were selected to the All-NBL First Team.

Standout games for Cotton included 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists against Melbourne United on 15 March 2019, 27 points and 6 rebounds on 27 October 2018, and 26 points and 4 rebounds against Illawarra Hawks on 1 February 2019.

Perth dominated Brisbane in the semi-finals, with Terrico White (24 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) and Cotton (19 points, 10 assists) leading them to a Game 1 win (89–59). Game 2 saw White score 24 points as Perth clinched the series (84–79) to advance to the Grand Final against Melbourne.

In Game 1 of the Grand Final, Perth won (81-71) with strong performances from White (19 points, 8 rebounds) and Kay (14 points, 7 rebounds), while Cotton added 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Melbourne’s offense was led by Casper Ware (19 points) and Chris Goulding (15 points).

Melbourne evened the series in Game 2 (92-74), powered by Ware (14 points), Goulding (14 points), DJ Kennedy (12 points, 14 rebounds), and David Barlow (11 points). White (17 points) and Cotton (19 points) led Perth’s efforts, though they couldn’t overcome United’s balanced scoring.

Trevor Gleeson’s adjustments led to a dominant Game 3 win for Perth (95-67), with White scoring 31 points and Cotton adding 27 points and 10 assists, nearly outscoring Melbourne alone. For Melbourne, Kennedy and Barlow were bright spots with 13 points each.

Perth clinched the title in Game 4 (97-84), with Cotton (28 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals) and White (20 points, 8 rebounds) sealing the victory. White, who faced early-season criticism, averaged 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over the series and earned Grand Final MVP honors.

2019/20
In the 2019 off-season, the Wildcats made their first move by re-signing four-time championship-winning coach Trevor Gleeson to a three-year deal, alongside veteran champions Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff, as well as import Terrico White. In total, six members from the championship roster returned, while Wani Swaka Lo Buluk was promoted from a development role to replace the retiring Greg Hire. The team also brought in Dario Hunt and Majok Majok to fill the spots left by departing big men Tom Jervis and Angus Brandt, who headed to Europe.

The Wildcats started the season strongly with a 5–1 record but experienced a dip by Round 10, falling to 8–5 after consecutive losses. They regained momentum with four straight wins to close out December with a 13–6 record. In December, Martin reached a milestone, playing his 300th game for Perth before a left heel injury sidelined him for January. After consecutive losses to begin 2020, the team decided to release Dario Hunt (8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists) and replace him with seven-year NBA veteran Miles Plumlee (9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks).

Plumlee’s arrival provided the interior presence Perth needed, showcased in a win over New Zealand (80–79), where he posted 23 points and 18 rebounds, becoming the first Wildcat since 2007 to record over 20 points and 15 rebounds in a game.

With seven games left in the season, and Plumlee required to play each one to qualify for the playoffs, the Wildcats won six of seven games, securing their 34th consecutive finals appearance with a second-place finish (19–9). Fresh from his experience with the Australian Boomers at the World Cup, Nick Kay (15 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals) delivered a breakout season, while Bryce Cotton (22.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) made history as the first import to lead the league in scoring three years in a row.

In the semifinals, Perth edged past Cairns (2–1) to reach their 15th NBL Grand Final. Cotton (32 points) and Kay (14 points and 6 rebounds) led them to a game one victory (88–86) in front of a crowd of 11,647 Kings fans.

Ahead of game two in Perth, the league made the unprecedented decision to play the rest of the series behind closed doors due to COVID-19. In an empty stadium, the Kings leveled the series (1-1), fueled by Jae’Sean Tate (21 points on 7-of-9 shooting) and a standout performance from Andrew Bogut (24 points and 14 rebounds).

In game three, Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) delivered a career-high performance, including seven three-pointers, alongside Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) to secure a decisive victory (111–96) for Perth.

Ahead of game four, the Sydney Kings decided to withdraw from the series due to COVID-19 uncertainties and travel restrictions, particularly affecting their overseas-based players concerned about returning home. After a week of deliberation, the NBL awarded Perth the championship, as they held a 2-1 lead at the time. This marked the Wildcats’ tenth NBL title. Cotton, who averaged 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across the three games, was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in four years, becoming the first player in Wildcats history to win league MVP, Grand Final MVP, and a championship in the same season.

2020/21
After claiming the previous season’s Grand Final title, which ended prematurely when Sydney withdrew due to COVID-19 concerns, Perth encountered early struggles in the NBL21 season amidst ongoing pandemic disruptions. With key departures of Terrico White and Nick Kay to overseas offers, the Wildcats signed John Mooney to fill the significant gap in the frontcourt. However, due to the NBL’s decision to reduce import spots from three to two, Perth couldn’t re-sign Miles Plumlee. The season start was delayed multiple times and operated on an unpredictable schedule, with teams learning their matchups based on COVID travel limitations each week.

During these uncertain times, Perth struggled to find momentum and, after five rounds, sat in seventh place. The league then moved all teams to Melbourne for the NBL Cup—a series of eight games designed to maintain the season despite travel restrictions. It was here that Bryce Cotton (23.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals) elevated his game, which in turn opened opportunities for newcomer Todd Blanchfield (from Illawarra). Blanchfield (15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists) set a Wildcats record for most three-pointers in a season, complementing Mooney’s strong performance (16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals). Together, the trio brought Perth back to the top of the ladder.

As the season neared its end, Perth seemed primed for a third consecutive title, but Cotton’s season-ending injury in a loss to Melbourne (64–78) in their final regular-season game altered those plans. Despite missing the playoffs, Cotton’s impact was undeniable as he earned the league’s MVP award.

After being knocked from the top ladder spot by Melbourne in Round 13, Perth finished second (25-11). The Wildcats initially struggled in their semi-final opener against Illawarra (72–74) but bounced back in game two with Luke Travers (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Mooney (18 points, 10 rebounds) leading a 79-71 win. In game three, Blanchfield (24 points, 5 rebounds) and Mitchell Norton (15 points, 4 rebounds) stepped up in Cotton’s absence, propelling Perth over Illawarra (79-71) in a hard-fought series.

In the Grand Final, Perth faced first-seeded Melbourne United, who had been dominant all year. Games one and two took place in Perth due to travel restrictions. Blanchfield (27 points, 7 rebounds) led in game one, though United narrowly won (73-70). Game two was similarly challenging, with Chris Goulding (21 points) and Jock Landale (12 points, 17 rebounds) overpowering Perth again (83-74).

In game three, played in Melbourne, Norton (8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists) fought through injury but struggled, weakening the backcourt. Despite Kevin White’s impressive performances across the three games (10 points, 12 points, and 14 points), Perth couldn’t clinch a win. Game three concluded with United defeating Perth 81-76 before a limited-capacity crowd at John Cain Arena. Jock Landale (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists, 2 blocks) secured Finals MVP honors as United claimed their sixth championship.

2021/22
The 2021/22 season brought significant changes for Perth, beginning with the departure of Trevor Gleeson, who led the team to five championships in seven seasons, to the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. Mid-season signing Will Magnay, along with key bench players Clint Steindl, Jarrad Weeks, and Jarred Bairstow, left to join Tasmania’s new NBL team under former Wildcats assistant Scott Roth.

To rebuild, Perth appointed U.S. coach Scott Morrison, adding imports Vic Law (from Brisbane) and Michael Frazier III, alongside Matthew Hodgson (from Brisbane) to complete their roster.

Perth started the season with five home games but then faced a grueling stretch of 14 away games due to border closures. Despite the challenges of prolonged travel and separation from family, the Wildcats spent most of the season in the top four, emerging as Grand Final contenders.

Cotton (22.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals) and Law (20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.0 blocks) were an unstoppable duo, both ranking in the league’s top three scorers. Perth led the NBL in scoring, averaging 89.1 points per game. By the time Perth returned to Western Australia, they were second on the ladder (13-6) with nine games left, all at home.

During this stretch, Frazier was swapped out for big man John Brown III, who began training with Perth only to learn that his former team would not grant a clearance, preventing his participation in the playoffs. Frazier, having trained alongside Brown, was asked to rejoin the roster as Brown returned to the U.S.

As the season neared its end, a knee injury sidelined Law, while Cotton also missed several critical games, resulting in Perth winning only three of their last nine home games. Heading into the final game, Perth needed a win against South East Melbourne to secure their place in the playoffs. Despite building an eight-point lead in the second half, the Phoenix staged a comeback, clinching a two-point overtime victory and ending Perth’s 36-season streak of consecutive playoff appearances that began in 1986.

Both Cotton and Law were named to the All-NBL First Team for their outstanding performances during the season, underscoring their impact despite the team’s challenging finish.

2022/23
After a historic first in missing the playoffs in 35 years, head coach Scott Morrison departed after just one season, citing family reasons, prompting Perth to hire former Townsville Crocodiles star John Rillie on a three-year deal. Despite retaining most of their roster, the Wildcats saw a few departures: Kevin White (to Illawarra) and Matt Hodgson (to Taiwan). Perth solidified their squad by re-signing Bryce Cotton (3-year deal), Todd Blanchfield (3-year deal), and Jesse Wagstaff (1-year deal) while promoting Kyle Zunic from development player to the main roster. Corey Webster, who had signed with the Wildcats in 2017 but left before the season, rejoined as a free agent, and new imports TaShawn Thomas (France) and Brady Manek (North Carolina) were added for scoring depth.

Rillie’s team started strong with three consecutive wins, looking like the Wildcats of old and sitting atop the NBL ladder. However, a five-game losing streak saw them drop to seventh place, a position they maintained for much of the season.

Cotton had several standout performances, including a 27-point, 8-assist game where he scored 14 points in the second quarter alone and delivered a poster dunk in a narrow loss to South East Melbourne (90-91).

In a memorable game against Adelaide, Cotton scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, leading a 14-0 Wildcats run to break their losing streak with a 94-89 victory, quieting a record crowd of 9,071 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

A month later, Cotton led Perth to another victory over Adelaide (98-90), where he scored 32 points and dished out 6 assists. The game also marked milestones for teammate Mitch Norton (300 games) and Adelaide’s Daniel Johnson (400 games).

After an impressive 5-2 December, the Wildcats climbed to fifth, vying for a top-six playoff spot. Cotton delivered a season-high 40 points, along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 11-of-21 from the field, in a 106-86 win over Illawarra in front of 12,521 home fans, lifting Perth to a 14-11 record and into fourth place.

Cotton also played a pivotal role in an epic comeback against Melbourne, turning a 89-84 deficit with 9 seconds left into a victory. Todd Blanchfield hit a three-pointer while drawing a foul, missed the free throw, grabbed his rebound, and quickly passed to Corey Webster, who nailed the game-winning three-pointer for a 90-89 triumph. Blanchfield contributed 8 points and 2 rebounds, Webster added 20 points and 3 assists, and Cotton led with 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

With six games left in the season, Perth signed Tai Webster after his release from a Turkish team, reuniting him with his brother Corey. Following Webster’s arrival, Corey Shervill was released from Perth’s 11-man roster.

Perth’s final three games saw losses, including a 102-94 defeat to Tasmania, where they were outscored 27-15 in the last quarter, and a crucial 84-71 loss to Cairns, setting up a tense last round. With a win, Perth could secure a playoff spot; a loss would eliminate them. Led by Corey Webster (26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists), Luke Travers (22 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists), and Brady Manek (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals), Perth defeated the league-leading Kings (96-84), clinching sixth place and a spot in the league’s inaugural play-in tournament.

In the play-in, Perth trailed South East Melbourne for most of the game before a massive fourth-quarter push outscored the Phoenix 41-23, securing a 106-99 win. The Wildcats then faced Cairns, where DJ Hogg’s record-breaking 32-point playoff performance, coupled with 9 rebounds and 4 assists, ended Perth’s season with a 91-78 defeat. Cotton wrapped up his season averaging 23.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.6 steals across 30 games, earning Perth’s MVP award and a spot on the All-NBL First Team.

2023/24
After missing the 2023 playoffs, Perth revamped their roster, losing NBA-bound Luke Travers to Melbourne but securing standout free agent Keanu Pinder (via Cairns) and promising rookie Ben Henshall. Henshall’s addition led Perth to buy out Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and Mitchell Norton (to Brisbane), ushering in fresh talent for a rejuvenated squad.

French prodigy Alexandre Sarr joined via the Next Stars Program, while imports Jordan Usher and Kristian Doolittle were added for additional scoring. Perth junior David Okwera signed on a multi-year deal, completing the overhaul.

Perth’s season began with a win over Tasmania, highlighted by Usher’s 35-point debut, the highest ever for a Wildcats debutant. Despite this promising start, the team struggled, losing five of the next six games, culminating in a loss to Brisbane that ignited fan and media calls for a coaching change.

Cotton’s reduced offensive role, with the new scheme focusing on Tai and Corey Webster, raised concerns, including a public call for change from Cotton’s wife, which made national headlines. A bold prediction from Pinder (13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.7 steals) sparked a turnaround, with Perth winning five straight games.

Cotton, after a slow start, broke out with 29 points in a dominant November 4 win over Adelaide, reclaiming his MVP-caliber form. In December, he posted a season-high 41 points against Sydney, and over an eight-game stretch from December 15 to January 21, he averaged 30.4 points, including four 30-point games, reasserting himself in the MVP race.

Key lineup adjustments included moving Usher (12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) to a sixth-man role and elevating Hyrum Harris (5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) to the starting lineup. Harris brought defensive grit, diving for loose balls and crashing the boards. Sarr (9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks) displayed his NBA potential, with pivotal moments like back-to-back threes against Adelaide, solidifying his status as a projected top NBA draft pick.

Perth finished second (17-11), with Cotton clinching his fourth MVP award, passing Brisbane legend Leroy Loggins (three) and trailing only Andrew Gaze (seven). Their season ended in the semifinals against eventual champions Tasmania. Henshall wrapped up his rookie season with averages of 3.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists over 16 games.

Bryce Cotton currently plays for the Perth Wildcats and has played 234 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 22.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists since entering the league in 2016.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Perth Wildcats – 3 Year Deal (2022-25)
3rd Year Player Option

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 43rd in total points

HIGHLIGHTS:

Dan Boyce (814 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.


NBL TOTAL STATISTICS

SEASONAGETEAMTEAM RECORDGPMINSPTSREBASTORDRSTLBLKTOPFFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%FTMFTAFT%TS%EFG%HS
2024-2532Perth2-3 (7)3276.011017171255196327642%183749%283874%58%54%35
2023-2431Perth17-11 (2)301,130.068711712216101453553919849040%8123235%21023689%57%49%41
2022-2330Perth15-13 (6)301,093.070213814820118490625020951740%8523536%19921891%57%49%40
2021-2229Perth16-12 (5)28986.0635971372275412543520549541%8824436%13715091%56%50%33
2020-2128Perth25-11 (2)321,136.0751921821973472543924259741%8627032%18120190%54%48%36
2019-2027Perth19-9 (2)321,106.072312712815112501663923856142%9925539%14817684%56%51%42
2018-1926Perth18-10 (1)311,091.067712311523100413593521854040%8825035%15317886%54%49%37
2017-1825Perth16-12 (3)30958.058689872960351545219643745%9020344%10412087%59%55%36
2016-1724Perth15-13 (3)16531.036951501140200302812626647%4512835%728189%61%56%45
Totals23480905240851986167684333134433231664397941.8%680185436.7%1232139888.1%57%50%45

NBL PER GAME STATISTICS

SEASONAGETEAMTEAM RECORDGPMINSPTSREBASTORDRSTLBLKTOPFFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%FTMFTAFT%TS%EFG%HS
2024-2532Perth2-3 (7)322.43.40.50.50.40.20.20.00.30.21.02.442%0.61.249%0.91.274%58%54%35
2023-2431Perth17-11 (2)3037.722.93.94.10.53.41.50.11.81.36.616.340%2.77.735%7.07.989%57%49%41
2022-2330Perth15-13 (6)3036.423.44.64.90.73.91.60.02.11.77.017.240%2.87.836%6.67.391%57%49%40
2021-2229Perth16-12 (5)2835.222.73.54.90.82.71.50.11.91.37.317.741%3.18.736%4.95.491%56%50%33
2020-2128Perth25-11 (2)3235.523.52.95.70.62.31.50.11.71.27.618.741%2.78.432%5.76.390%54%48%36
2019-2027Perth19-9 (2)3234.622.64.04.00.53.51.60.02.11.27.417.542%3.18.039%4.65.584%56%51%42
2018-1926Perth18-10 (1)3135.221.84.03.70.73.21.30.11.91.17.017.440%2.88.135%4.95.786%54%49%37
2017-1825Perth16-12 (3)3031.919.53.02.91.02.01.20.01.81.76.514.645%3.06.844%3.54.087%59%55%36
2016-1724Perth15-13 (3)1633.223.13.23.10.72.51.30.01.91.87.916.647%2.88.035%4.55.189%61%56%45
Total23434.622.43.64.20.72.91.40.11.91.47.117.041.8%0.00.036.7%2.97.988.1%57%50%45

CAREER HIGHS

POINTS REBOUNDS ASSISTS STEALS BLOCKS TURNOVERS TRIPLE DOUBLES
4513116180

FIBA EXPERIENCE

Cotton was included in a number of pre-tournament Boomers squads, on the condition that he received his Australian passport. This never eventuated and he never played a game for Australia.

NBA EXPERIENCE

After playing college basketball at Providence and going undrafted, Cotton played in six Summer League games and five preseason games for San Antonio, before being waived on October 23, 2014. He then signed a deal to play for the teams G-League squad the Austin Spurs.

He appeared in 34 games (all starts) for Austin in the 2014–15 season, averaging 22.4 points (third in the D-League), 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 40.5 minutes (first in the D-League) per contest. He scored in double figures on 31 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in 20 games. He also registered 40-or-more points twice, including a season-high 43 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals against the Reno Bighorns on February 19, 2015.

For the season, he was named to the Western Conference All-Star team for the NBA D-League All-Star Game[28] and earned All-NBA D-League Second Team and NBA D-League All-Rookie First Team honors.

On February 24, 2015, Cotton signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz. He made his NBA debut three days later, recording three points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in just under seven minutes off the bench in a 104–82 win over the Denver Nuggets. He signed a second 10-day contract with the Jazz on March 6, and a multi-year deal on March 16.

Over the final four games of the season, he averaged 14.3 points per game, scoring in double figures all four times, including a season-high 21 points against the Dallas Mavericks on April 13. In 15 games for the Jazz to finish the 2014–15 season, he averaged 5.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.6 minutes per game.

After playing for the Jazz during the Summer League and preseason, Cotton was waived by Utah on October 20, 2015. He subsequently re-joined the Austin Spurs for the 2015–16 NBA Development League season.

On November 25, 2015, after four games with Austin, Cotton signed with the Phoenix Suns. Cottons long-awaited debut for the Suns came over a month later on December 30, following injuries to Eric Bledsoe and Ronnie Price. He scored two points on 1-of-6 shooting in a 112–79 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He also had three steals and two assists in just over 21 minutes off the bench.

Cotton appeared in the Suns next two games before being waived on January 7, 2016. He subsequently returned to the Austin Spurs where he played two more games.

The following season, Cotton signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, playing out the remainder of the 2015–16 regular season (11 April 16). He appeared in five games for the Grizzlies before parting ways with the team prior to the start of the playoffs.

Cotton played for Atlanta during the 2016 NBA Summer League, but after failing to make the team, chose to play in Turkey. Later that year, when Cotton was with the Perth Wildcats, Atlanta offered Cotton a ten-day contract to play in the NBA which he turned down in favor of securing a long term deal with Perth and an NBL championship.

Cotton played 23 games in the NBA. He averaged 3.8 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game over his NBA career.

NBA TRANSACTIONS:

- July 7, 2014: Signed a multi-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
- October 23, 2014: Waived by the San Antonio Spurs.
- February 24, 2015: Signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz.
- March 6, 2015: Signed a 2nd 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz.
- March 16, 2015: Signed a multi-year contract with the Utah Jazz October 20, 2015: Waived by the Utah Jazz.
- November 25, 2015: Signed a contract with the Phoenix Suns January 7, 2016: Waived by the Phoenix Suns.
- April 1, 2016: Signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
- April 11, 2016: Signed a contract for the rest of the season with the Memphis Grizzlies

Season Team PTS AST STL BLK FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P%
1 0 97% 95% 92% 41%
2 0 45 11 6 1
Total 1664 3979 41.8% 680 1854 36.7%

NBA TOTAL STATISTICS

YEARAGETEAMPOSGPGSMINSPTSTRBASTORBDRBSTLBLKTOVPFFGFGAFG%3P3PA3P%FTFTAFT%TS%EFG%
2015-1623MemphisPG50640000000022100%000%000%100%100%
2015-1623PhoenixPG30334030030522825%030%000%25%25%
2014-1522UtahPG15015980181531540126296942%72035%151883%52%47%
2014-1522UtahPG15015980181531540126296942%72035%151883%52%47%
2015-1623MemphisPG50640000000022100%000%000%100%100%
2015-1623PhoenixPG30334030030522825%030%000%25%25%
2014-1522UtahPG15015980181531540126296942%72035%151883%52%47%
2015-1623MemphisPG50640000000022100%000%000%100%100%
2015-1623PhoenixPG30334030030522825%030%000%25%25%
Total23019888181831570178337942%72330%151883%

NBA PER GAME STATISTICS

YEARAGETEAMPOSGPGSMINSPTSTRBASTORBDRBSTLBLKTOVPFFGFGAFG%3P3PA3P%FTFTAFT%TS%EFG%
2014-1522UtahPG15010.65.31.21.00.21.00.30.00.80.41.94.642%0.51.335%1.01.283%52%47%
2015-1623MemphisPG501.20.80.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.40.4100%0.00.00%0.00.00%100%100%
2015-1623PhoenixPG3011.01.30.01.00.00.01.00.01.70.70.72.725%0.01.00%0.00.00%25%25%
Total2308.63.80.80.80.10.70.30.70.31.43.442%0.31.030%0.70.883%

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Cotton spent time in China in between NBA opportunities. In nine games for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, he averaged 21.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game during the 2015/16 CBA season. After returning to the NBA for a brief stint with Memphis, he then joined Turkish club Anadolu Efes on August 27, 2016.

A mutual termination of his contract took place on December 12, 2016, with Cotton citing that the countrys safety concerns were a major factor in him leaving. He averaged 8.0 points in 10 EuroLeague games and 10.4 points in seven Turkish League games.

On April 3, 2018, Cotton signed with Brescia Leonessa of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). In 11 games, he averaged 12.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

COLLEGE

Cotton's family could not afford to pay for college tuition and his scholarship dream looked over until Providence College made a offer just three days before freshman orientation. After reportedly signing with Miami Dade College on August 18, 2010, Cotton instead committed to the Providence Friars on August 30. He scored 15 points in the Friars' season opener against Dartmouth on November 13, 2010. In 31 games as a freshman, Cotton averaged 4.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game.

As a sophomore in 2011/12, Cotton became a starter and was the team's second leading scorer, averaging 14.3 points per game while shooting 37.9 percent from 3-point range. On December 10, 2011, Cotton scored 20 of his career-high 34 points in the first half of the Friars' 72–61 win over Bryant. He finished the game shooting 11-of-16 from the field with a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line. He later scored 27 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, with a perfect 5-of-5 from 3-point range and 10-of-12 from the free throw line against Louisville on January 10, 2012.

Prior to Cotton's junior seasons there were rumours he may chose to leave Providence but these ended up being unfounded and he continued on with the Friars in 2012/13.

Following a breakout sophomore year, Cotton came into his junior season still in the shadows of senior point guard Vincent Council. Cotton was forced to step into the forefront for Providence to make up for injuries in the backcourt to Council and highly touted freshman guard Kris Dunn. Cotton also had to take on a leadership role with a young team. He registered his first career double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds against Bryant on November 12, 2012. On December 1, he injured his knee and missed the second half against Mississippi State. It turned out he had torn his meniscus, but decided to play through the pain for the rest of the season. He scored a season-high 33 points and was 7-of-14 from 3-point territory against Boston College on December 22. He led the Big East Conference in scoring with 18.3 points per game, becoming the fifth Friar all-time to lead the league in scoring. He subsequently earned first-team All-Big East honours. In total, Cotton averaged 19.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 37.8 minutes per game over 32 games.

During the off-season, Cotton had surgery to repair his meniscus.

To conclude his time in collegethe 2013/14 regular season, Cotton was the only player in the nation to average more than 40 minutes per game (40.1), having averaged 41.9 minutes in Big East competition. His high minutes per game were as a result of Providence's six overtime games, four of which went to a second overtime. In those four double-overtime outings, Cotton played 200 minutes of a possible 200 minutes. His tireless play carried the Friars to their best season in a decade, as they headed into the Big East tournament with a 20–11 record. After going 3–0 in the Big East tournament, the Friars reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. It marked Providence's first Big East tournament title since 1994, and Cotton was selected as the tournament MVP. In Providence's 79–77 loss to North Carolina in the NCAA tournament, Cotton scored a career-high 36 points.

In 35 games as a senior, Cotton averaged 21.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He led the Big East in assists and was second in scoring. He subsequently earned first-team All-Big East honours for the second straight season, as well as being named to the AP Honorable Mention All-America Team. He finished his career ranked fourth all-time in scoring at Providence (1,975 points),

AWARDS

- 3x time NBL Most Valuable Player (2018, 2020, 2021)
- 2x time NBL Finals MVP (2017, 2020)
- 7x All-NBL First Team- 2× NBL Fans MVP (2019, 2021)
- NBA D-League All-Star (2015)
- All-NBA D-League Second Team (2015)
- NBA D-League All-Rookie First Team (2015)
- 2× First-team All-Big East (2013, 2014)
- Big East Tournament MVP (2014)

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