“A dagger through the heart”

Thursday, May 22, 2025

"You get some championships from your run with Bryce Cotton, but this one leaves you wounded."

It’s fair to say Bryce Cotton delivered more joy and success to Perth than anyone could have ever imagined, but this one’s got to hurt.

>> Bombshell: Cotton's shock NBL return?

After nine seasons and five MVPs at the Wildcats, Cotton is reportedly now a 36er, and according to Derek Rucker, “that’s a dagger right through the heart” for the fans and club alike.

“You get some championships from your run with Bryce Cotton, but this one leaves you wounded,” Rucker said on a special edition of NBL Now.

“The Perth Red Army - to see their beloved son go to the hated rivals, the Adelaide 36ers - bang. A dagger right through the heart, folks.”

“To quote one great South Australian commentator, this is happening between Adelaide and Perth, because just when you thought that rivalry couldn’t get any more fierce, I think it just went up a level,” John Casey added.

Cotton has signed a three-year deal in Adelaide, according to ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, just months after confirming his departure from the Wildcats.

Many experts expected him to sign overseas, but the 32-year-old is set to grace the NBL court once again come September.

“Now the pressure is on Perth ... how do you ameliorate that fanbase and make them feel good about what’s to come, when Cotton has made this leap?” Rucker said.

“It’s going to be so fun to watch that first game against the Perth Wildcats. We can circle that on the calendar,” Peter Hooley added.

Cotton boasts averages of 23.1 points and 4.3 assists per game throughout an incredible 258-game NBL career.