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Cotton 'blindsided' by 36ers offer as he lifts lid on club switch
SEN • August 26th, 2025 12:15 pm
Adelaide 36ers star recruit Bryce Cotton says he was totally blindsided by the club’s approach during the NBA’s free agency period.
The five-time MVP stunned the basketball world when he announced in May he would be defecting from the Perth Wildcats to the 36ers having previously insisted he would never play for another Australian side.
In his first weekly appearance with SENSA Breakfast, Cotton has lifted the lid on how the monumental move came to pass.
“I was honestly not planning (to stay in Australia),” Cotton said. “They came out of the blue. Me and my manager, we were still discussing options as it was early in the free agency.
“One night my manager sent me a text with the proposal they had sent through, up until that point there had been no talks with them.
“It blindsided me, but it was a pretty good offer, a lot of things lined up for me and my family and it was a no-brainer from there.”
Cotton signed a three-year deal with the 36ers believing the city was the best fit for him and his family.
“Australia in general, the love for basketball has skyrocketed,” he continued.
“Trying to bring back the winning culture to Adelaide, that is an exciting part of the challenge for me.
“We have the pieces, there familiarity and a challenge. That really drew me, it’s not like Sydney or Melbourne where there is so much going on, this suits my personality.
“It was very surreal up until the first practice when I got my gear. The new journey is finally here and I’m so excited to get going.”
