BIO: Paul Rogers was born in Adelaide (SA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Sturt basketball program.

Rogers reportedly stood at only 182 cm (6’0″ feet) in mid-1990 before having a growth spurt that saw him measuring at 209 cm (6’10” feet) by the time he joined the 36ers.

As a younger player, Rogers had a unorthodox shooting style in which he would grit his teeth before shooting. This was most noticeable when at the free throw line.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Paul Rogers made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

1992
Adelaide had played at the Apollo Stadium since the team’s inception in 1982, but by the early 1990s, ticket demand was far too great to remain there, and the team moved into the 8,000-seat Clipsal Powerhouse prior to the 1992 season. During the off-season, Adelaide retained import point guard Butch Hays and captain Mark Davis but saw local favourite and former captain Darryl Pearce sign with the North Melbourne Giants.

The venue quickly became a fortress for the 36ers, with every game played in front of a sell-out crowd. The increased fan support saw Adelaide open the year with a 106-84 victory over the North Melbourne Giants. After this initial success, however, the team failed to win again across their next seven games, including losses to Hobart and Newcastle.

The 36ers would then face a major hurdle after the league’s mid-season break to accommodate the Barcelona Olympics. After the Boomers finished the tournament in fourth place, Bradtke returned with the announcement that he had accepted a lucrative deal (reportedly worth $200,000) to finish the season playing for Spanish team Juver Murcia. In his 17 games prior to the break, Bradtke had clearly become the best local big man in the competition. In his final Adelaide appearance that season against Geelong, Bradtke (a career-high 43 points and 25 rebounds) starred. Bradtke (20.1 points, 14.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists) had been a major contributor before departing.

Adelaide was unable to replace Bradtke’s production and finished ninth with an 11-13 record.

Davis (23.5 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks) again led the team with his spectacular all-around game, while Rogers (0.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists across 5 games) contributed in limited minutes.

Despite the disappointing season, two positives in 1992 were the rookie debuts of local teenagers Brett Maher (2.2 points in 8 minutes per game), who went on to play a record 525 games for Adelaide, and 18-year-old Paul Rogers (5 games). At the end of the season, Mark Davis would become an Australian citizen and play as a local moving forward.

Bradtke, who had signed with the Spanish club for only one season, had an agreement to play with Adelaide if he returned in 1993. Upon his return to Australia, Bradtke made it known he did not want to play the final year of his contract in Adelaide, amongst rumours the Melbourne Tigers were actively recruiting him. After negotiations between the two parties broke down, the 36ers gave permission for Bradtke to leave if a team would buy out his remaining contract. However, the NBL stepped in and vetoed the buyout, effectively letting Bradtke leave for Melbourne without the 36ers receiving any compensation. After the fact it became clear Bradtke had decided to move to Melbourne to be closer to then girlfriend (and future wife), pro-tennis player Nicole Provis.

1993
After two losing seasons under coach Don Shipway, Adelaide hired American Don Monson to replace him and steer the team back to its winning ways of the past decade. With the 36ers still regrouping from the huge loss of Boomers big man Mark Bradtke (who had left for Melbourne), they added young talent in Chris Blakemore (AIS) and Scott Ninnis (South East Melbourne) and veterans Phil Smyth (captain of the Australian Boomers at the time) and Willie Simmons from the Canberra Cannons.

Rogers (1.4 points and 0.6 rebounds across 5 games) contributed in limited minutes, while the team improved to a 14–12 record under Monson and made the playoffs by finishing in seventh place.

At the end of the season, Blakemore (5.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) claimed Rookie of the Year honours, while Ninnis (19.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals) delivered his highest scoring season to date and collected the Most Improved Player award. The 36ers were then eliminated in the quarterfinals by Ninnis’s former team, the defending NBL champions, South East Melbourne Magic.

Rogers saw minimal opportunities to play in his first two seasons, stuck behind established big men Mark Davis, Mark Bradtke and Brett Wheeler. Rogers (0.6 points per game in 1992 and 1.4 points per game in 1993) made just ten appearances across his first two seasons while receiving limited minutes. At the end of his second season, he decided to play college basketball with Gonzaga University (Washington, USA) instead.

1998/99
After spending four years in the US college system and a season playing in Spain, Rogers signed a deal to play in the NBL with the Perth Wildcats. Rogers (21.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 11 games) made an immediate impact, although the Wildcats finished sixth with a 13-13 record.

Paul Rogers earned All-NBL Second Team honours for the 1998/99 season.

1999/00
Rogers (21.4 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 11 games) had established himself in Perth the previous season following his return from Spain. However, the Wildcats finished sixth with a 13-13 record and were eliminated by Adelaide in the opening round of the playoffs. Looking to improve on four consecutive seasons without a Grand Final appearance, coach Alan Black retained Rogers alongside captain Andrew Vlahov, Ricky Grace, Scott Fisher, Anthony Stewart and James Harvey. Todd Lichti, James Crawford, Clinton McDaniel and Sidney Goodman were among those who departed, while the club underwent a significant change in ownership. Longtime owner Kerry Stokes handed control of the Wildcats to Vlahov and former Chicago Bulls centre Luc Longley, who had recently won three consecutive NBA championships. With an experienced roster and Rogers entering his second season in Perth, the Wildcats were determined to return to championship contention.

Perth opened the season against Adelaide at the Adelaide Arena on October 2, where Rogers (20 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) led the Wildcats despite a 109-89 defeat. Stewart (17 points and 6 assists) and Harvey (16 points and 2 rebounds) provided support. Brett Maher (25 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists) was one of Adelaide’s leading performers as the defending champions controlled the contest. The Wildcats went on to lose their first three games, leaving Black’s experienced lineup under pressure before the team began to find its form.

Rogers (18.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 blocks across 36 games) provided the Wildcats with a consistent scoring presence around the basket and remained their leading rebounder throughout the campaign. Although his averages were slightly lower than the previous season, he appeared in all 28 regular-season games and eight playoff contests, giving Perth the reliable interior presence it had lacked during several injury-affected seasons. His ability to score efficiently, protect the rim and control the defensive boards made him a major part of the Wildcats’ improved performances, with the team gradually recovering from its winless start to establish itself among the competition’s leading contenders.

One of Rogers’ most impressive performances came against Sydney on January 15 at the Perth Entertainment Centre, where Rogers (a season-high 32 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks on 13-of-18 shooting, including five offensive rebounds) led Perth’s frontcourt. Stewart (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Grace (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists) contributed as the Wildcats defeated Sydney 106-91. It was his season-high scoring performance.

The Wildcats added another experienced scorer to their rotation midway through the season by signing former Melbourne Tigers import Marcus Timmons (12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 16 games). Timmons had previously won an NBL championship with Melbourne in 1997 and gave Perth another athletic perimeter option to complement Rogers’ interior scoring. His arrival also allowed Black to use a more versatile lineup, with the Wildcats benefiting from improved depth as the season progressed.

Timmons made his first appearance for Perth on January 26 against Wollongong at the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Rogers produced another strong offensive performance. Rogers (29 points and 7 rebounds on 10-of-17 field-goal shooting, with nine made free throws) led Perth as the Wildcats claimed a 93-88 victory. Grace (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Timmons (7 points and 3 steals in his debut) provided support. Wollongong was led by Matt Garrison (24 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists), but Perth held on to secure an important road win, with Rogers and Grace combining for 54 points.

On February 26, Rogers played a major role in one of Perth’s most memorable victories of the season when the Wildcats hosted ladder-leading Adelaide at the Perth Entertainment Centre. Facing the defending champions, Perth trailed by 16 points at halftime, with Rogers (25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks) leading Perth’s comeback alongside Stewart (21 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists). Adelaide was led by Martin Cattalini (24 points and 4 rebounds), but the Wildcats fought back to take the game into the final seconds. Trailing by one point with 20 seconds remaining, Grace drew multiple defenders before finding an open Stewart, who made the winning basket after a pump fake and one dribble. Perth completed the comeback with an 88-86 victory, giving the Wildcats a significant win against the team that had eliminated them from the previous season’s playoffs.

Grace (14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists across 35 games) continued to direct the Wildcats’ offence, with his passing creating opportunities for Rogers and Perth’s other scoring options. Vlahov (14.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.9 steals across 36 games) provided leadership, rebounding and defensive pressure alongside Rogers, while Fisher (12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds across 35 games) remained a valuable frontcourt contributor. Stewart (12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 36 games) offered another perimeter threat, and Harvey (8.2 points across 36 games, up from 1.7 points as a rookie) made significant progress. Rogers’ consistent performances were rewarded when he became the first player in Wildcats history to win the NBL Most Valuable Player award. He was also selected to the All-NBL First Team for the first time in his career and claimed Perth’s club MVP award, completing an outstanding individual regular season. His form also preceded his selection to represent Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games later that year.

Perth finished the regular season with eight consecutive victories, recovering from an 0-3 start to claim third place with a 22-6 record. Adelaide and Townsville also finished with 22 wins and six losses, with the teams separated by the league’s tiebreaking criteria. Having established itself as one of the NBL’s strongest teams, Perth entered the playoffs looking to end its championship drought, with Rogers’ rebounding and inside scoring providing a major advantage against opposing frontcourts.

The Wildcats opened their quarterfinal series against West Sydney at the Whitlam Centre on March 15, but suffered a 91-80 defeat. Rogers (12 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, including six offensive rebounds) contributed as Perth struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities. Vlahov (15 points and 4 rebounds) and Grace (14 points and 5 assists) provided support. West Sydney was led by Derek Rucker (29 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals), whose performance helped the Razorbacks take a 1-0 series advantage and left Perth needing consecutive victories to avoid another early playoff exit.

Returning to the Perth Entertainment Centre for game two on March 17, Rogers (25 points, 18 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, including seven offensive rebounds) dominated the paint and provided the Wildcats with a reliable scoring option throughout the contest. Grace (20 points and 9 assists) and Vlahov (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 steals) contributed. Rucker (25 points and 7 assists) again led West Sydney, but Perth secured a 99-88 victory to level the series at one game apiece.

The deciding quarterfinal followed on March 19, with Rogers again providing the Wildcats’ most consistent frontcourt production. Rogers (19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) contributed, while Timmons (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Grace (15 points and 8 assists) provided support. Simon Dwight (17 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks) was West Sydney’s leading scorer, but Perth controlled the contest well enough to claim an 82-74 victory. The result completed a 2-1 series comeback and secured the Wildcats a place in the semi-finals against Townsville.

Perth hosted the Crocodiles in the opening semi-final at the Perth Entertainment Centre on March 24, edging Townsville 104-101 in a closely contested game. Rogers (13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) contributed, providing an important defensive presence against the Crocodiles’ athletic frontcourt. Grace (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Wildcats, while Timmons (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support. Mike Kelly (29 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists) led Townsville’s scoring, but Perth held on to take the opening game of the series and move within one victory of the Grand Final.

Townsville responded in game two on March 31 at the Townsville Entertainment Centre, defeating Perth 101-78 to force a decider. Rogers (13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) contributed, while Grace (16 points and 5 assists) and Timmons (11 points and 8 rebounds) provided support. Sam Mackinnon (23 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals) was outstanding for the Crocodiles, whose balanced attack also featured strong performances from Pat Reidy and Robert Rose. Townsville’s victory levelled the series at 1-1 and placed Perth under pressure to win another elimination game away from home.

The Wildcats returned to Townsville on April 2 for the deciding semi-final and produced one of their strongest performances of the postseason, defeating the Crocodiles 104-84. Rogers (20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block on 7-of-12 shooting, with six made free throws) contributed. Grace (21 points and 11 assists) and Stewart (21 points) provided support as Perth’s balanced offence proved too much for the home side. Rose (33 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals) delivered an outstanding individual performance for Townsville, but Rogers’ inside presence helped Perth control the boards and secure a 2-1 series victory, advancing to its first Grand Final since 1995.

Perth faced the Victoria Titans in the championship series, beginning with game one at Melbourne Park on April 7. Rogers (24 points, 20 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block across all 48 minutes, including five offensive and 15 defensive rebounds on 10-of-16 shooting) dominated inside as the Titans struggled to contain him around the basket. Grace (19 points and 6 assists) and Vlahov (9 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) provided support. Tony Ronaldson (25 points and 2 rebounds) led Victoria, but Rogers’ dominance on the boards helped Perth secure an 84-78 road victory and move within one game of its fourth NBL championship.

The Wildcats returned home for game two on April 12, playing in front of approximately 8,000 supporters at the Perth Entertainment Centre. With Victoria placing greater pressure on Perth’s interior scoring, Rogers (9 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) contributed, while the Wildcats found their offensive spark from the perimeter. Timmons (a game-high 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals, including seven three-pointers) led Perth, while Stewart (20 points and 7 rebounds) contributed. Darryl McDonald (25 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals) led the Titans, but Perth held on for an 83-76 victory to complete a 2-0 Grand Final sweep. Timmons was named Grand Final MVP as Rogers celebrated his first NBL championship, completing a remarkable season in which he had become the first Wildcats player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award and helped Perth claim its fourth NBL title, the club’s final championship at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

2000/01
Rogers (16.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists across 19 games) helped Perth finish with a 21-7 regular-season record and third place on the season-specific ladder.

Paul Rogers earned All-NBL Second Team honours for the 2000/01 season.

2001/02
Rogers continued to play for the Wildcats until the end of the 2001/02 NBL season, following which he signed to return home to the Adelaide 36ers, who would be defending NBL champions. Rogers (18.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 32 games) remained a key contributor during his final season before the move.

Perth finished with a 17-13 regular-season record and second place on the season-specific ladder.

2002/03
Rogers returned home to Adelaide, joining the league’s reigning champions. Rogers (9.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 12 games) contributed during the season. He helped the 36ers finish with a record of 16-14 and end the regular season in fifth place. Adelaide met Rogers’ former club Perth in a best-of-three qualifying-final series. In game one on 8 March 2003 at Adelaide Arena, Mark Nash (30 points) led the 36ers, but Ricky Grace (29 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) helped Perth win 119-116.

In game two on 12 March at Challenge Stadium, Rogers (8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks) contributed alongside Martin Cattalini (22 points) and Brett Maher (22 points) as Adelaide won 99-91 to level the series. Rob Feaster (23 points) led Perth.

Game three followed on 16 March in Perth, where Rogers (6 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 steal) contributed for Adelaide, but Ricky Grace (32 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Wildcats to a 94-86 victory, eliminating the defending champions.

In 2003, Rogers returned to Spain and played the next two seasons for Girona in the Spanish Liga ACB.

2005/06
After Ricky Grace retired in 2005, veteran Tony Ronaldson was elevated to team captain of the Wildcats. While the team looked to build on its disappointing seventh place finish last season, they kept the majority of their local roster intact, with the departures of Grace, Adrian Majstrovich (New Zealand), and seldom used Braith Cox (Melbourne), while adding Paul Rogers (via Spanish club Girona on a two-year deal signed in August 2005), Dillon Boucher (via New Zealand) and rookie swingman Cameron Tovey.

The Wildcats did clean house when it came to imports, however. The departing Rosell Ellis (to South) and Rashad Tucker (to Melbourne) would be replaced by point guard David Bailey and Shawn Redhage, who joined the team after being released by New Zealand in 2004.

Redhage (20 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists) led Perth in scoring in his first season with the club, while Bailey (17.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals) provided scoring and playmaking from the point guard position.

Tony Ronaldson (14.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) and Peter Crawford (14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals) added scoring, while veteran Matthew Shanahan (11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists) enjoyed his most productive season off the bench.

Perth finished seventh for the second consecutive season.

Despite a 16-16 regular-season record, Perth qualified for the playoffs under the NBL’s top-eight format.

In the elimination final at Brisbane on 8 February 2006, seventh-seeded Perth defeated the Bullets 96-91 behind Matthew Shanahan (22 points), Tony Ronaldson (20 points), and David Bailey (17 points). Mark Bradtke (22 points and 11 rebounds), Sam Mackinnon (17 points and 10 rebounds), and Bobby Brannen (17 points and 13 rebounds) led Brisbane.

In the quarterfinal at Wollongong, Rogers (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks) contributed as Redhage (32 points and 13 rebounds) led Perth to a 121-101 road win. Adam Ballinger (23 points) and Cortez Groves (23 points) led Wollongong, but Perth advanced to the semifinals against Melbourne.

In semifinal game one at Melbourne on 14 February, Rogers (2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) contributed, but NBL MVP Chris Anstey (28 points and 11 rebounds) and former Wildcat Rashad Tucker (10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) led the Tigers to a 94-78 win.

In game two at Challenge Stadium on 16 February, Rogers (6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) contributed for Perth alongside David Bailey (30 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists). Anstey (29 points and 6 rebounds) and Tucker (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists) helped Melbourne win 106-101, completing the sweep and ending Perth’s playoff run. Melbourne went on to win the NBL championship.

Rogers (7.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 27 games) contributed during his return season in Perth, while Redhage finished runner-up in NBL MVP voting.

In February 2006, West Australian businessman Jack Bendat became the chairman and majority shareholder of the franchise. Although no longer the majority shareholder, Andrew Vlahov remained in control of the team as managing director. Bendat then assumed full control in 2007.

2006/07
Rogers was named Perth captain in 2006/07. Rogers (15.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists across 31 games) helped the Wildcats finish third with a 23-10 record.

In the quarterfinal at Challenge Stadium on 17 February 2007, Rogers (18 points) supported Redhage (24 points), but Cairns won 82-78 behind Darnell Mee (19 points), Aaron Boodnikoff (15 points), and Martin Cattalini (12 points), eliminating the Wildcats.

Paul Rogers earned All-NBL Second Team honours for the 2006/07 season.

2007/08
After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, the Wildcats moved on from veteran Tony Ronaldson (to New Zealand) and guard Damien Ryan (Europe), looking to get younger and bigger and replaced them with Alex Loughton (Spain) and Tom Garlepp (NCAA). After an impressive debut season, Perth could not retain import Darren Brooks who received several lucrative offers from overseas and replaced him with Rashad Phillips.

Despite leading the league in assists, Phillips (13.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists) was released six games into the season, with the team sitting on a 3-3 record and head coach Scott Fisher citing Phillips’ fitness being the main issue.

‘ Unfortunately, Rashad never really showed us the athleticism or intensity needed to make himself or those around him better. Plus, he never really contributed to the defensive side of things. He lacked the leadership and on-court management that this group needs. So we felt it was in the best interest of the club to delist him.’

The team replaced Phillips with Gerald Brown (13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists), who had previously been a teammate of Luc Longley with the Phoenix Suns.

Rookie Loughton (14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals) impressed during his rookie season, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting (losing to Nathan Jawai). Shawn Redhage (22.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists) delivered a career-high scoring season, including Redhage (40 points against Adelaide on 10 October 2007), and became the fastest Wildcat to reach 2,000 career points, doing so in 95 games and 3,400 minutes. Captain Paul Rogers (12.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks) proved he was still one of the competition’s elite big men, earning All-NBL Third Team honours, while Redhage was named to the All-NBL First Team. Despite the high-level play from Redhage and Rogers the team struggled on the road. Close to unbeatable at home (12-3) but woeful in away games (6-9), the Wildcats finished the season in fourth place (18-12).

Much like their results from the regular season, Perth was able to win at home but struggled on the road in the playoffs. In the quarterfinal against fifth-seeded Townsville on 22 February 2008, Rogers (2 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) contributed as Peter Crawford (23 points and 7 rebounds) led Perth to a 96-78 home win; Corey Williams (29 points) led Townsville.

In semifinal game one at Sydney on 25 February, Perth lost 101-98.

In game two in Perth, Redhage (35 points) helped the Wildcats respond with a 94-85 victory.

Sydney then defeated Perth 109-77 in the deciding game three on 1 March despite contributions from Gerald Brown (23 points), Redhage (20 points), and Rogers (14 points), ending the Wildcats’ playoff run. Shortly afterwards, coach Fisher announced he would not seek a new contract from the Wildcats and would return to the United States.

2008/09
After four seasons of leading the Wildcats, coach Scott Fisher decided it was time to return to his family in the US. Upon Fisher’s announcement that he would not return after leading the Wildcats to within one game of the grand final, a worldwide search was conducted for the hiring of the team’s next coach. Ultimately, Fisher’s replacement would be Conner Henry, a former college teammate of Fisher’s who had been with the Wildcats since 2006 as an assistant coach.

The core of the Wildcats’ roster, Shawn Redhage (University of Utah), Alex Loughton, Peter Crawford and Paul Rogers, would all return, with the only major changes to the team’s local roster being the additions of Ben Knight (via Singapore), Chris Goulding (via Brisbane) and rookie Stephen Weigh. Following Shawn Redhage’s naturalisation as an Australian in January 2008, the Wildcats had the luxury of being able to sign two new imports with athletic forward Isiah Victor (via Sydney) and Darnell Hinson (via West Sydney), who both delivered debut NBL seasons the year prior.

Perth entered the season fighting off multiple injuries, with guards Adam Caporn, Brad Robbins, and Peter Crawford all fighting through knee issues. The team even placed starting centre Rogers on the deactivated list due to a lingering knee complaint. The additional roster spot allowed Perth to pull off a major recruiting coup, beating Melbourne Tigers and South Dragons for the signature of former Boomers point guard Luke Kendall.

Midway through the season, Rogers returned to the lineup, forcing the Wildcats to release Kendall (8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals), who had become a key reserve with Robbins managing only three games over the season. Kendall signed a deal to play with Melbourne shortly after, who needed a replacement for Sam MacKinnon after medical staff advised him not to return to play. Team captain Rogers (9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks) played in only two games before a ruptured disc in his back that required surgery kept him out of the remaining games.

Perth’s regular-season results closely resembled the previous campaign. The Wildcats were a force at home (11-4) but couldn’t win on the road (6-9), finishing in fourth place (17-13) for the second year in a row. Shawn Redhage (19.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) would lead the team in scoring and rebounding, earning selection to the All-NBL Second Team along the way. Hinson (13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals), Loughton (13 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists) and Victor (12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists) also played key roles.

Once into the postseason, Perth faced fifth seed Townsville, who defeated them in the Elimination Finals (96-103), ending Perth’s season and Henry’s one-year tenure.

2009/10
Following the 2008/09 season, the Wildcats came within weeks of folding unless they raised a million dollars in sponsorship. The NBL itself was also in strife; with the competition falling on tough times, the league’s future in 2009/10 was uncertain. Collaborating with other clubs, the Wildcats helped reform the league.

Once the season was given the green light, the Wildcats hired a new coach in Rob Beveridge, who was tasked with recruiting a new-look team where Shawn Redhage, Stephen Weigh and Brad Robbins would be complemented by new additions Damian Martin (via Sydney), Drew Williamson (via Townsville), Luke Schenscher (via Adelaide), Martin Cattalini (via Cairns) and rookie Jesse Wagstaff to round out the bench. Paul Rogers relinquished the captaincy heading into the 2009/10 season, handing over the reins to Redhage. Import Kevin Lisch was then recruited to lead the Wildcats on the offensive end and lead the team into a new era.

In his first professional season following St. Louis University, Lisch (11.4 points across his first five NBL games) started slowly, but Lisch (21 points in 27 minutes) helped Perth beat Melbourne 94-90 before improving over the remainder of the season. By January, the Wildcats had improved to 13-8. Rogers played only two NBL games in 2009/10 before a torn triceps tendon and subsequent elbow infection ended his season and ultimately his NBL career. Perth signed import Galen Young as his replacement. New point guard Damian Martin (8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists) delivered his strongest professional season to date, earning an Australian Boomers call-up at the end of the season. Rogers (2.5 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0 assists across 2 games) finished his final NBL campaign with limited appearances.

Perth finished first with a 17-11 regular-season record and faced fourth-seeded Gold Coast in the semifinals. In game one, Lisch (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth to an 81-68 win.

In game two against Gold Coast, Lisch (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Wildcats to an 82-78 victory, completing the semifinal sweep and setting up Perth’s first Grand Final since 2003 against Wollongong.

Perth opened the Grand Final with a 75-64 home victory, where Lisch (15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) contributed across the box score.

Game two moved to Wollongong, where the Hawks defeated Perth 75-63 and Lisch (11 points) and Redhage (9 points) struggled offensively.

After Games 1 and 2 proved to be comfortable victories for each home team, the series returned to Perth for the third and deciding game, where the Wildcats found themselves down by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. Lisch (29 points and 5 rebounds) would prove to be the difference-maker in the second half, carrying the team offensively, defeating Wollongong (96–72) and guiding the team to a record fifth NBL Championship. Lisch (18 points and 4 rebounds per game across the three-game series) was named Finals MVP.

Rogers and Cattalini both announced their retirements after Perth’s championship season. Rogers had appeared in only two NBL games during the campaign but celebrated the title with his former teammates.

For NBL games between the two clubs Rogers played for, the Adelaide 36ers and Perth Wildcats, the game MVP is awarded the Paul Rogers MVP Medal.

On 4 February 2013, Rogers was named in the Perth Wildcats 30th Anniversary All-Star team.

Paul Rogers played twelve seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Perth Wildcats and the Adelaide 36ers. He averaged 14.2 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 214 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:

– 31st in total blocks

HIGHLIGHTS: