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NZ Warriors in-stadium commentaryCotton shocks NBL with free agency decision
Nicholas Quinlan • May 23rd, 2025 1:29 pm
Photo: Jono Searle/AAP
Bryce Cotton has shocked the NBL world with a sensational move that will see him return to the league.
The five-time NBL MVP and three-time NBL champion with the Perth Wildcats has surprisingly signed a three-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers.
This was after comments made in March this year to Channel 10 News after being asked whether he would move to a different NBL club.
“Nah, I don’t think that’s a possibility for me, but it’s been a fun ride, I still can’t believe I’ve played nine seasons here (at Perth). It’s been a blur. Don’t know what’s next, but if it is, what a ride it’s been,” Cotton said.
The backflip has sparked outrage in Western Australia.
So much so, The West Australian came up with the back page headline: ‘The Lying King’.
It was expected that NBL25 would be his last season with the Wildcats with Cotton paying tribute to Perth in an Instagram post.
“Perth will always be home, but it’s time to say goodbye and see what else God has planned for me and my family.”
This was due to rumours that he would play in Japan instead of the NBL.
But it appears that during last week, Matt Weston (GM of Basketball at the 36ers) and Cotton’s agent were in negotiations to seal his signature.
“On Tuesday I simply asked the question, ‘What’s going to happen with him?’ and they told me he was open to coming back,” Weston told NBL.com.au.
“So, we have been working day and night talking about philosophy, strategy, what we do and how we do it here.
“I worked around the clock from that and on Thursday we got the deal done.”
In the meantime, Cotton has been playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo.
In the 22 games that he has played so far, the point guard has averaged 17.8, 5.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game.
