No time to unwind for new Wildcat

Perth Wildcats import Dylan Windler is hellbent on making an impact in Perth, whether it leads him to an NBA return or not. 

The former first-round draft selection says he’s bought in to the Wildcats’ program already and will do all he can to help them to an 11th championship.

Windler boasts 101 games’ NBA experience after being taken with the 26th overall pick in 2019, and has a reputation as an outstanding outsider shooter with strong rebounding ability.

“It’s high level basketball that has a good reputation around the NBA,” Windler said of the NBL.

“Obviously the ultimate goal is to get back to the NBA for me. But now that I’m here, I’m bought in to this program and this organisation.

“I’m going to help them to win as many games as I can. If getting back to the NBA is a bi-product of that, then that is awesome.”

Windler is hoping to play in at least one of Perth’s pre-season games on their Japan tour over the next week, as he recovers from a minor ankle issue, and says he did research on his new team before arriving in Australia.

“I saw they struggled on the defensive glass last year. Throughout college I averaged double-digit rebounds. It’s something I excel at so I think I can help them there,” he said.

“A lot of it is just the mentality. Beating guys to the spot and crashing it every time. You have to have a high motor. You’ve got to have a knack for following the ball off the rim.”

Windler had a record 33 rebounds in a G-League game earlier this year, nine more than the previous best. 

He played 17 games during stints with the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks across his most recent NBA season. 

Perth will play the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins on Friday morning at 12am AEST/10AM AWST, with the game available live and free via NBL+ on the NBL App.