BIO: Tom Jervis was born in Kalgoorlie (WA) and began playing basketball as a junior with the East Perth basketball program.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Tom Jervis made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 26 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.

Having been defeated by the New Zealand Breakers in the previous two Grand Final series and then losing star import Kevin Lisch (to France), the Wildcat’s revamped their roster, looking to bring a new look squad and style that would deliver the team a sixth championship.

Team changes included the departure of Rob Beveridge, Kevin Lisch (who would follow Beveridge to Illawarra) and Cameron Tovey. The Wildcats’ then reloaded first by appointing Trevor Gleeson as head coach and signing two new imports in small forward James Ennis, who had just been selected as the 50th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, and shooting guard Jermaine Beal. Hard-nosed point guard Damian Martin would be named team captain, and Perth’s core group of Shawn Redhage, Jesse Wagstaff, Matthew Knight and Greg Hire all returned. Tom Jervis, as well as guards Drake U’U and Erik Burdon, were also signed to bolster the team’s bench.

A search to replace a former NBL MVP is never easy, but when Wildcats managing director Nick Marvin and head coach Trevor Gleeson witnessed his ability first hand at the NBA Summer League, they knew they had a star.

Ennis opened the season with 25 points and 4 rebounds on debut, a three-point victory over arch-rivals Adelaide, the most points scored by a Wildcat on NBL debut at the time. Ennis would earn player of the month in his first month as a Wildcat as Perth began the season with a 8-0 start.

Injuries to Knight forced the club to sign Jarrad Prue and Jeremiah Trueman as short-term injury replacements in October and January, but the Wildcats were still the clear pacesetters for the league. By the league’s mid-season break for the All-Star game, they sat in first place with a 12-1 record, and it was clear that Perth possessed the league’s best import duo that season. James Ennis (21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Jermaine Beal (15.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists), perfectly complemented the league’s best defender Damian Martin (7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists 2.2 steals) and best villain Shawn Redhage (13.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) and to no surprise, Perth finished the season on top of the ladder and reached the postseason for their 28th year in a row. Ennis and Beal were named to the All-NBL first and second team’s respectively.

Once into the postseason, the Wildcat’s eliminated the Wollongong Hawks first in straight sets, while on the other side of the bracket, their historic rivals Adelaide eliminated Melbourne in three games to see both team’s progress to the 2014 Grand Final.

The grand final would see first-placed Perth face second-ranked Adelaide with game one held in Perth. Wildcats star import James Ennis (30 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists) would lead Perth in points, rebounds, and assists, resulting in Perth claiming the win (92-85) and taking a 1-0 series lead.

Game two saw the 36ers force a deciding third game in front of 8,127 fans (their largest crowd of the season) rally their team to a 89-84 win behind high scoring from Gary Ervin (23 points) and a all-round game from Adam Gibson (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists) to even the series (1-1).

In response, 13,498 of Perth’s ‘red army’ would show up to see Perth defeat Adelaide and win their sixth NBL title. With James Ennis subdued by foul trouble, the Wildcat’s most experienced duo, Shawn Redhage and Damian Martin, were relied upon to pick up the slack. Redhage, scored 10 of his 16 points in the first term to help his team settle into the contest, while Martin produced a superb defensive effort on 36ers star Gary Ervin, limiting Adelaide’s game two hero to just four points while adding 14 points and six rebounds to the stat sheet. Greg Hire (9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Jermaine Beal (15 points) provided key contributions to help Perth bury the demons of successive grand final defeats in the past two seasons.

While Anthony Petrie (20 points) gave up for the 36ers, he lacked the support from fellow starters Adam Gibson (8 points) and Daniel Johnson (9 points), both of whom had been influential in the first two games of the series.

After his huge opening game, Ennis struggled to make a impact in Games two and three, and Beal would go on to win Finals MVP after averaging 17.6 points per game, shooting 48% from beyond the three-point line. Jervis would finish the season by playing in 33 games and averaging 5.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.

2014/15
In 2014, the reigning NBL champions would see close to their entire roster run it back for a chance to repeat as NBL champions. Perth were able to re-sign both Shawn Redhage and Damian Martin (both 3 year deals) and have Jermaine Beal, Damian Martin, Matthew Knight, Greg Hire and Tom Jervis return. Although the team would lose star import James Ennis to the NBA they were able to replace him with another star in Deandre Daniels (14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds) as their second import.

This season Redhage would relinquish the captaincy to Damian Martin and see Perth struggle through injuries all season. Most impacted was the team’s’ frontcourt as Knight (6 games), Hire (19 games) both missing games during the season and Redhage suffering from a stress fracture in his right foot which saw him miss the Wildcats’ entire finals campaign.

With the departure of Ennis, Beal (16.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) became Perth’s main offensive weapon and won the club’s MVP award at the end of the season. The Wildcats’ banged up roster still managed to finish in fourth place (16–12) with Matthew Knight earning a spot on the All-NBL Second Team, and Damian Martin named the NBL’s Best Defensive Player for the fifth consecutive year at the end of season awards.

Perth were then swiftly eliminated by the Cairns in the semifinals. The Wildcats’ had no answer for Taipans’ guard Scottie Wilbekin, who racked up 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in game one (71-64) and then backed it up with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists in game two (80-68).

Jervis would play a key role for the Wildcats this season, appearing in 30 games and averaging 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists.

2015/16
After finishing fourth with a 16-12 record during an injury-riddled 2014/15 season before being swept by Cairns in the semifinals, Perth entered 2015/16 under coach Trevor Gleeson looking to return to championship contention. DeAndre Daniels (to Toronto), Drake U’U (opted out) and Earnest Ross (released after suffering a torn Achilles) departed, while Casey Prather (via Bakersfield), Nathan Jawai (via Andorra) and Hugh Greenwood (via New Mexico) were added. Greenwood (to Adelaide Crows) then asked to be released only one month into his three-year contract before the regular season after deciding to leave basketball and pursue an AFL career, forcing Perth to revise its recruiting strategy, with Jarrod Kenny (via Hawke’s Bay) signed as his replacement. With Jawai’s arrival, an injury-free Matthew Knight was able to move to his natural power forward position while Shawn Redhage moved into a bench role.

Perth opened the season in Adelaide on October 10, where Jervis (5 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block) came off the bench as the Wildcats defeated the 36ers 79-66. Jermaine Beal (18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) led Perth in scoring and Jawai (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) made an immediate impact in his Wildcats debut, while Daniel Johnson (18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) was Adelaide’s best.

Jervis (6.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 34 games) entered the second season of the two-year extension with a third-year option he had signed after Perth’s 2014 championship. After testing free agency and meeting with Melbourne United before re-signing, Jervis said, “I’m really relieved that the process has come to an end and that I’ll be remaining a part of this great club.” The addition of Jawai reduced his minutes, but Jervis remained Perth’s backup centre and played all 28 regular-season games and all six playoff games, coming off the bench in every appearance and not missing a game through injury or illness. After Round 10, his rebounding rate had increased to 12.1 rebounds per 30 minutes, ranking second in the NBL.

The opening month saw captain Damian Martin (5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals across 24 games) suffer a broken jaw and lose teeth following an errant elbow from Townsville forward Brian Conklin. Martin returned before the end of the month despite initially being ruled out for three weeks and later played his 200th game for the Wildcats in February.

One of Jervis’ best defensive games came during Perth’s battle with Melbourne for top spot on December 10, where he finished with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and a season-high 4 blocks as the Wildcats dismantled United 113-83 at Perth Arena. Beal (40 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) scored 33 points across the second and third quarters after being held scoreless in the opening period and made a club-record 10 three-pointers, while Prather (20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) provided support and Daniel Kickert (23 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Melbourne.

Jervis’ best game of the season came against Sydney at Perth Arena on February 5, where he made eight of 14 field goals and finished with career highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds, tied his career high with 6 assists and added 2 blocks in 28 minutes off the bench as Perth recovered from an 11-0 start to defeat the Kings 95-81. With Prather sidelined by hamstring tightness, Perth’s bench outscored Sydney’s reserves 59-9, with Jesse Wagstaff (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Redhage (16 points and 4 assists) helping the Wildcats secure a top-two finish and their 30th consecutive playoff appearance, while Josh Childress (30 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) was Sydney’s best. “The bench guys played at the intensity level required,” Gleeson said.

Perth made no changes to its 10-player contracted roster once the regular season began, instead relying on its existing development-player group when injuries required additional depth.

Prather (16.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 27 games) led Perth in scoring and was named the Wildcats’ club MVP despite missing time with knee and hamstring problems, while Beal (15.6 points and 3.6 assists across 33 games) remained the team’s other major perimeter scorer. Knight (11.6 points and 7.9 rebounds across 33 games) completed his first injury-free Wildcats season and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Jawai (10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds across 32 games) gave Perth another physical interior option. Redhage (6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds across 34 games) provided scoring from the bench and played his 350th NBL game in January while averaging under 10 points for the first time in his NBL career. Perth and Melbourne traded control of the top of the ladder for much of the season, with the Wildcats holding first place for four rounds and United for 14, while Perth slipped to third only once.

Jervis (14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) finished the regular season strongly against Adelaide at Perth Arena on February 14 as the Wildcats defeated the 36ers 100-84. Prather (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Beal (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth’s other scorers, while Mitchell Creek (17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) was Adelaide’s best as the Wildcats completed an 18-10 regular season and finished second.

Perth opened its semifinal series against Illawarra at Perth Arena on February 19, where Jervis (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) produced one of his strongest postseason performances as the Wildcats won 80-68. Prather (19 points) and Beal (18 points) led Perth in scoring, while Tim Coenraad (23 points) and AJ Ogilvy (14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led Illawarra after newly crowned NBL MVP Kevin Lisch (2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) suffered an ankle injury during the opening quarter.

Game two moved to Wollongong, where Jervis (7 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block) contributed from the bench but Illawarra defeated Perth 104-87 and levelled the series. Prather (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Beal (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Wildcats, while Oscar Forman (21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks), Ogilvy (20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) and Kirk Penney (18 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) carried the Hawks.

Game three returned to Perth Arena, where Jervis (6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) helped the Wildcats close out the series with an 89-74 victory. Beal (17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Wagstaff (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Perth in scoring, while Prather (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) added a thunderous one-handed slam over Ogilvy (9 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) early in the fourth quarter and Penney (18 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) was Illawarra’s leading scorer as Perth won the series 2-1 and advanced to the Grand Final.

Defending champion New Zealand had finished fourth with a 16-12 record before sweeping minor premier Melbourne in the semifinals, setting up the Grand Final series against Perth. Game one was played at Perth Arena, where Jervis (0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 block) provided reserve minutes as the Wildcats won 82-76. Jawai (15 points), Knight (14 points and 5 rebounds), Prather (11 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Kenny (8 points) led Perth, while Corey Webster (19 points and 2 steals) and Cedric Jackson (14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) led New Zealand.

Game two moved to Auckland, where Jervis (0 points) was held scoreless as New Zealand defeated Perth 72-68 and levelled the series. Beal (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Wagstaff (13 points) led the Wildcats, but Cedric Jackson (13 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals) produced a near triple-double and Thomas Abercrombie (12 points and 5 rebounds) provided support for the Breakers, while a crucial late turnover from Beal cost Perth an opportunity to steal the game.

The deciding game returned to Perth Arena in front of 13,090 members of the ‘Red Army’, where Jervis (8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) produced one of his strongest defensive performances of the season and became involved in a heated off-ball tangle with Cedric Jackson (0 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) before halftime. Prather (19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Beal (14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) led Perth in scoring, while Martin (10 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block) controlled the game defensively and Abercrombie (21 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 steals) was New Zealand’s leading scorer. Martin was named Grand Final MVP after keeping Jackson scoreless as Perth won 75-52 and claimed its seventh NBL championship.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2016/17
Brisbane returned to the NBL for the first time since 2008/09 with Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis as head coach and Adam Gibson (via Adelaide) named captain. Daniel Kickert (via Melbourne), Anthony Petrie (via Adelaide), Torrey Craig (via Cairns), Cameron Bairstow (via Chicago), Shaun Bruce (via Cairns), Mitchell Young (via Townsville) and import Jermaine Beal (via Perth) were among the players added to the reformed Bullets roster.

Jervis (via Perth) signed a three-year deal on April 18 after helping the Wildcats win the 2016 championship. He had the option of remaining in Western Australia but joined Brisbane looking for more court time and the opportunity to reunite with Lemanis, who had previously coached him with the Australian Boomers. “Tom has played a key role in Perth’s success in recent seasons and he brings a quality skill set to the Bullets,” Lemanis said.

Brisbane opened the season against defending champion Perth at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on October 6, where Jervis (5 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) started against his former club as Craig (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Beal (14 points and 4 rebounds) led the Bullets to a 72-65 win. Jameel McKay (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks) was Perth’s best.

Jervis (7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds across 28 games) appeared in every game during his first season in Brisbane and did not miss any games through injury. He started Brisbane’s first 14 games before coming off the bench for the final 14, while his 21 blocked shots were the most by any Bullets player.

Jervis (12 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block) produced his best all-round game against Adelaide on October 16, recording his season-high in rebounds as Brisbane took the 36ers to overtime. Craig (22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Beal (21 points and 2 assists) led the scoring for Brisbane, but Jerome Randle (34 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) carried Adelaide to a 96-93 win.

Jervis (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists) produced his best scoring game against Illawarra at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 10, making 9-of-12 shots from the field and leading Brisbane in scoring. Craig (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Beal (16 points) also reached double figures, while Rotnei Clarke (24 points and 3 assists) led the Hawks to a 98-88 victory.

Brisbane’s season was disrupted by injuries around Jervis. Bairstow (12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds across 13 games) missed the entire preseason and the first two regular-season games because of the shoulder injury he suffered while playing for Australia at the Rio Olympics, before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in December and being ruled out for the remainder of the season. Petrie (7.1 points and 3.1 rebounds across 18 games) was also ruled out for the season after requiring surgery for cartilage damage in his left knee, with Isaih Tueta (via New Zealand) brought into the side as injury cover. Jeremy Kendle (via Bendigo) began training with Brisbane during the injury problems, although a low-grade calf strain initially delayed his addition to the playing group. Kendle (11 points across 7 games) signed as an injury replacement on January 11 before becoming part of the permanent roster following the release of Beal (11.2 points across 23 games) for under-performing later that month. “We have not been able to get the best out of Jermaine, and he has not been contributing to the level that he wants to,” Lemanis said.

Craig (15.2 points and 8 rebounds across 28 games) led Brisbane in scoring and rebounding, won the NBL’s Best Defensive Player award and was selected to the All-NBL Second Team. Kickert (12.8 points and 4 rebounds across 28 games) became the first player in NBL history to record a 50-40-90 season, shooting 54.4 percent from the field, 45.9 percent from three and 95.1 percent from the free-throw line, and joined Craig on the All-NBL Second Team. Gibson (9.8 points and 3.8 assists across 21 games), Bruce (5.9 points across 28 games) and Young (5.5 points across 28 games) were Brisbane’s other major contributors.

Brisbane’s season ended against Illawarra at WIN Entertainment Centre on February 11, where Jervis (14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) finished his first Bullets season strongly off the bench. Craig (30 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) and Kendle (11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) were Brisbane’s other leading scorers, while Oscar Forman (26 points and 1 block) led Illawarra to a 106-79 victory, leaving Brisbane eighth with a 10-18 record.

2017/18
After finishing eighth with a 10-18 record in their first season back in the NBL, Brisbane entered 2017/18 under head coach Andrej Lemanis with Adam Gibson remaining captain. Torrey Craig (to Denver), Jermaine Beal and Jeremy Kendle departed, while Lemanis added Travis Trice (via Cairns), Stephen Holt (via Czech Republic) and Perrin Buford (via Italy). Cameron Bairstow remained sidelined while recovering from the ACL injury suffered the previous season, while Anthony Petrie returned from knee surgery.

Brisbane was also selected to take part in the first NBLxNBA series, travelling to Phoenix to face the Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 13. Trice (20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) led Brisbane, while Jervis (13 points and 6 rebounds), Buford (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Kickert (10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) also contributed, but Devin Booker (31 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Phoenix to a 114-93 win.
Watch Brisbane Bullets vs Phoenix Suns replay

Brisbane opened the season against defending champions Perth at Perth Arena on October 7, where Jervis (8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal) came off the bench as the Wildcats defeated the Bullets 96-86. Trice (27 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Daniel Kickert (18 points) led Brisbane, while Bryce Cotton (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Perth’s leading scorer.

Jervis (10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds across 24 games) entered the second season of the three-year deal he had signed with Brisbane in April 2016 after leaving Perth. His role increased significantly from his first season with the Bullets, with Jervis producing the highest scoring average of his NBL career while shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 86.5 percent from the free throw line.

Development player Will Magnay (2.2 points across 6 games) joined Brisbane in October on a three-year deal after leaving Tulsa University.

Jervis’ best game of the season came against Cairns on October 20, where Jervis (18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) made seven of his eight field goal attempts and all four free throws as Brisbane defeated the Taipans 83-78 for its first win of the season. Buford (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Petrie (12 points) provided support, while Alex Loughton (15 points) led Cairns.

His season-high scoring game came against New Zealand on December 7, where Jervis (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist) made nine of his ten field goal attempts, but Brisbane fell to the Breakers 96-89. Kickert (16 points and 6 rebounds) and Buford (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) were Brisbane’s other leading performers, while Thomas Abercrombie (22 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block) led New Zealand.

An unspecified injury sidelined Jervis for Brisbane’s final four games of the season, with Lemanis later noting his absence had contributed to the Bullets being short-handed during the final weeks.

Buford (15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks across 22 games) led Brisbane in scoring and rebounding before requesting his release late in the season to pursue an opportunity in Europe. Trice (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals across 27 games) was named Brisbane’s club MVP, while Kickert (13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds across 26 games), Holt (9.7 points and 3.1 rebounds across 28 games), Reuben Te Rangi (7.3 points across 26 games), Gibson (7.3 points and 3.5 assists across 24 games) and Petrie (5.9 points across 16 games) were the other main contributors.

Jervis remained sidelined as Brisbane closed the season in Adelaide on February 17, where Trice (20 points) and Holt (12 points and 3 rebounds) led the Bullets, while Majok Deng (20 points and 3 steals) paced Adelaide to a 105-82 victory, leaving Brisbane eighth with a 9-19 record.

PERTH WILDCATS
2018/19
After finishing third with a 16-12 record and being swept 2-0 by Adelaide in the 2018 semifinals, Perth reshaped its roster. With Matt Knight having retired during the previous season, JP Tokoto (to Israel), Lucas Walker (to Cairns), Jarrod Kenny (to Cairns), Dexter Kernich-Drew (to Cairns) and Derek Cooke Jr (not retained) departed, while Bryce Cotton re-signed on a three-year deal. Nick Kay (via Illawarra), Mitch Norton (via Illawarra), Tom Jervis (via Brisbane) and import Terrico White (via Seoul) joined the Wildcats, while Rhys Vague was elevated from development player to the full roster.

Jervis returned to Perth on a one-year deal on May 16 after spending two seasons with Brisbane, having previously won championships with the Wildcats in 2014 and 2016. His wife Jazze and young daughter remained in Queensland because of Jazze’s career, with Jervis saying, “It’ll be challenging, but we’ll get through it.”

Jervis made an immediate impact during the preseason, finishing with 14 points and 9 rebounds as Perth defeated Adelaide 100-61 despite missing several players on Boomers duty, with Steindl (20 points), Cotton (20 points and 6 steals) and Vague (13 points and 10 rebounds) also contributing, while Jacob Wiley (19 points) led Adelaide. Gleeson said, “Tom has that length that we missed last year and he can pass the ball and get the shot off against more athletic players.” Perth later travelled to the United States, suffering a 130-72 loss to the Utah Jazz before producing a much stronger performance in a 96-88 loss to the Denver Nuggets, with Gleeson later describing the Utah defeat as a catalyst for the season.

Jervis’s best game of the season came in Perth’s regular-season opener against Adelaide on October 11, where Jervis (12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) made his first appearance for the Wildcats since 2016 and played his 150th NBL game. Cotton (22 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal), White (20 points) and Kay (18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) helped Perth defeat Adelaide 99-91, while Daniel Johnson (23 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block) and Nathan Sobey (20 points, 6 assists, and 1 block) led the 36ers.

Jervis (3.8 points across 33 games) filled a backup centre role behind Angus Brandt and also moved into the starting lineup when injuries affected Perth’s frontcourt. On November 3, Jervis (0 points) joined Greg Hire, Vague and Sunday Dech as Perth fielded four West Australian players in the same game for the first time since 1994 during a 92-78 win over New Zealand. “It’s a testament to the Wildcats and what they’ve done development-player-wise,” Jervis said. “Greg has come up through those ranks, the same as Sunday and Rhys. I’ve been a training player with the Cats. They’ve done a great job.” VIDEO: Tom Jervis and Greg Hire discuss unusual game-day habits during the 2018/19 season

When Brandt re-injured his ankle in November, Jervis moved back into the starting lineup and produced another of his best games against Cairns on November 17. Jervis (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) scored Perth’s first two baskets of overtime before fouling out as the Wildcats defeated the Taipans 88-83. Cotton (26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal), Kay (18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Norton (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Perth, while Melo Trimble (18 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 block), Devon Hall (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Robert Loe (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) were Cairns’ best.

Jervis again reached his season-high scoring mark against Illawarra on December 23, finishing with 12 points and 8 rebounds off the bench as Perth fell 77-81. Cotton (21 points) and White (10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) were the other Wildcats in double figures, while David Andersen (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block) and Todd Blanchfield (19 points and 2 steals) led the Hawks.

Perth had opened the season 10-1 despite injuries to several key players, but lost eight of its next ten games to fall to 12-9 by mid-January. Martin (5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.6 steals across 28 games) missed six games with a right calf tear, while Brandt (8 points and 5.5 rebounds across 31 games) missed three games after re-injuring an ankle he had originally hurt while playing for the Australian Boomers. Cotton and White also missed games, but despite external pressure to make roster changes or activate a third import, Gleeson backed the existing group. Jervis did not play against Melbourne on January 20, the only game he missed during Perth’s 34-game season, with no injury reported at the time.

The Wildcats responded to their mid-season struggles by winning six consecutive games and returned to the top of the ladder. Perth closed the regular season against Melbourne on February 17, where Jervis (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal), Kay (22 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals), Wagstaff (12 points and 1 steal) and Cotton (11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Wildcats, while DJ Kennedy (21 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block) led United to an 81-70 overtime win. Despite the loss, Perth finished first with an 18-10 record and secured its 33rd consecutive postseason appearance.

Cotton (21.8 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 31 games) led the NBL in scoring and finished third in MVP voting behind Casper Ware and winner Andrew Bogut, while White (17 points and 4.3 rebounds across 30 games) emerged as Perth’s second-leading scorer. Kay (14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals across 34 games) produced a career-best season and joined Cotton on the All-NBL First Team, while Norton (8.3 points across 27 games), Steindl (6.9 points across 34 games) and Wagstaff (5.6 points across 34 games) provided further depth alongside Brandt, Martin and Jervis.

Perth opened its semifinal series against Brisbane at RAC Arena, where Jervis (0 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) provided backup minutes as Cotton (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), White (19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Kay (18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led the Wildcats to an 89-59 victory. Cameron Gliddon (18 points and 4 rebounds), Matthew Hodgson (10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Lamar Patterson (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) were Brisbane’s main contributors.

Game two moved to Brisbane, where Jervis (0 points and 1 block) again came off the bench as White (24 points and 3 rebounds), Cotton (19 points and 10 assists) and Kay (16 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Perth to an 84-79 victory. Patterson (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Hodgson (15 points and 2 blocks) and Cameron Bairstow (12 points and 7 rebounds) led Brisbane as Perth completed the semifinal sweep and advanced to the Grand Final against defending champion Melbourne.

The Grand Final series opened at RAC Arena, where Jervis (0 points and 4 blocks) protected the rim during his ten minutes off the bench as White (19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Brandt (14 points and 7 rebounds), Kay (10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) and Cotton (10 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals) helped Perth defeat Melbourne 81-71. Casper Ware (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Chris Goulding (15 points and 1 steal) led United as Perth took a 1-0 series lead.

Melbourne responded in game two with a 92-74 victory at Melbourne Arena. Jervis (6 points and 3 rebounds), Cotton (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), White (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Kay (10 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Perth, while Goulding (14 points), Ware (14 points), Mitch McCarron (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Kennedy (12 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) helped United level the series 1-1.

Back in Perth for game three, Jervis (6 points, 1 steal, and 1 block) played more than 17 minutes as White (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Cotton (16 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) powered the Wildcats to a 96-67 victory. David Barlow (13 points and 5 rebounds) and Kennedy (13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) led Melbourne as Perth moved ahead 2-1.

Jervis entered game four after a back complaint made him a doubt for the championship-clinching opportunity in Melbourne, but he was cleared to play, with Martin saying, “He’ll be out there. He’ll be at his best.” Jervis (6 points and 8 rebounds) played more than 20 minutes and provided important frontcourt minutes alongside Cotton (28 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals), White (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kay (12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), while Ware (18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), Barlow (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Goulding (15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) led Melbourne. White was awarded the Larry Sengstock Medal after averaging 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across the Grand Final series as Perth defeated Melbourne 97-84, won the series 3-1 and claimed its ninth NBL championship, giving Jervis his third championship with the Wildcats.

2020/21
After being awarded the previous season’s championship when Sydney withdrew from the remaining games of the Grand Final series amid COVID-19 concerns, Perth entered NBL21 looking to win a third consecutive title under coach Trevor Gleeson. Damian Martin (retired), Terrico White (overseas), Nick Kay (to Spain) and Rhys Vague (to Japan) departed, while the NBL’s decision to reduce import spots from three to two prevented the Wildcats from retaining Miles Plumlee. John Mooney (via Notre Dame), Todd Blanchfield (via Illawarra) and Kevin White (via Adelaide) were added, while Corey Shervill and Andrew Ferguson joined as development players. Majok Majok was ruled out after rupturing his Achilles before the season, leaving Perth needing another local centre to complete its roster.

Tom Jervis (8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) made an immediate contribution in Perth’s season opener against South East Melbourne on January 24, making three of four shots in eight minutes as the Wildcats won 88-76 at RAC Arena. Cotton (27 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals) and Blanchfield (16 points and 4 rebounds) led Perth, while Mitchell Creek (17 points and 5 rebounds) was the Phoenix’s leading scorer.

Jervis (1.3 points across 36 games) had only signed with Perth nine days earlier, coming out of retirement after last playing in the NBL during the Wildcats’ 2019 championship season. The three-time champion returned to Western Australia and filled Perth’s final roster spot, with coach Trevor Gleeson looking for a veteran big man already familiar with the Wildcats system. “I didn’t really expect to get another crack at the NBL,” said Jervis. Used almost exclusively in short reserve minutes, he appeared in 32 of Perth’s 36 regular-season games and four of six playoff games. No injury was reported for Jervis during NBL21, with his six non-appearances recorded as DNPs and no injury explanation attached to those absences.

Perth struggled early and sat seventh after five rounds before relocating to Melbourne for the NBL Cup, where the Wildcats won seven of their eight games to claim the inaugural tournament.

In May, Will Magnay (via New Orleans) was added as a Nominated Replacement Player after returning from the New Orleans Pelicans, giving Perth another option in the frontcourt.

Jervis matched his season-high against Cairns on May 21, finishing with 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in a season-high 13 minutes as Perth defeated the Taipans 100-79. Cotton (19 points and 4 rebounds) and Blanchfield (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Wildcats, while Mirko Djeric (15 points) was Cairns’ leading scorer.

Cotton (23.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals across 32 games) underwent emergency surgery on a quadriceps haematoma late in May and was ruled out for Perth’s remaining regular-season games and the entire postseason. Mooney (16.9 points and 11.4 rebounds across 42 games), Blanchfield (15.2 points and 4.1 rebounds across 41 games) and Norton (8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 41 games) became increasingly important as Perth finished second with a 25-11 record behind Melbourne at 28-8. Cotton was named NBL MVP, Scoring Champion, Fans MVP and to the All-NBL First Team, Mooney joined him on the All-NBL First Team and won Perth’s Gordon Ellis Medal, while Gleeson was named NBL Coach of the Year. Jervis received Perth’s Coaches’ Award for lifting his teammates and being an important voice on and off the court.

Without Cotton, Perth opened the semifinals against Illawarra at RAC Arena, where Jervis did not enter the game as Blanchfield (24 points) and Mooney (13 points and 15 rebounds) led the Wildcats, while Justinian Jessup (17 points and 4 rebounds) and Justin Simon (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) helped the Hawks win 74-72.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Jervis (0 points) played 1:35 as Mooney (18 points and 10 rebounds) and Travers (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth to a 79-71 win, while Tyler Harvey (24 points and 4 steals) was Illawarra’s leading scorer.

Jervis did not enter the deciding game three, where Blanchfield (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals), Mooney (16 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 block) and Norton (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Perth to another 79-71 victory, while Sam Froling (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and Simon (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) were Illawarra’s best as the Wildcats advanced to the Grand Final.

Perth faced first-placed Melbourne United in the Grand Final, with COVID-19 travel restrictions resulting in the first two games being played at RAC Arena. Jervis (0 points and 1 rebound) played three minutes in game one as Blanchfield (27 points and 7 rebounds) and Mooney (8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals) led Perth, while Chris Goulding (23 points and 2 steals) and Jock Landale (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Melbourne to a 73-70 win.

Jervis (0 points and 1 block) again played three minutes in game two, where Mooney (17 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Blanchfield (13 points and 8 rebounds) led Perth, while Goulding (21 points) and Landale (12 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped Melbourne win 83-74 and take a 2-0 series lead.

Game three moved to John Cain Arena, where Jervis (0 points and 1 rebound) played 3:13 in what proved to be his final NBL appearance. White (14 points), Mooney (14 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 block) and Blanchfield (11 points and 11 rebounds) led Perth, while Landale (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Goulding (14 points and 4 rebounds) led Melbourne to an 81-76 win, completing the Grand Final sweep with Landale named Grand Final MVP.

Tom Jervis played seven seasons in the NBL. He averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 218 NBL games.