Hungry Jack's NBL
Wagstaff 450: A modern-day NBL legend
Written By
Dan Woods for NBL.com.au
Perth captain Jesse Wagstaff is primed to hit an incredible NBL milestone this weekend. Should he take to the court against the Adelaide 36ers he’ll become just the 30th player in NBL history – and the second Wildcat after Ricky Grace – to play 450 NBL games.
The six-time NBL champion has been gracing the court since 2009, where he scored 10 points in 14 minutes in a two-point loss to the Illawarra Hawks.
In the 448 games he’s played since then he’s nailed himself down as not only a legend of the Perth Wildcats, but as a legend of the NBL, and although his individual resume may not match the levels of former teammates who did not reach 450 games like Kevin Lisch or Damian Martin, Wagstaff has proven himself to be crucially important to the success of the Wildcats over the 2010s and – crucially – is still helping set them up for future success.
He's an understated and, likely, underappreciated legend of the modern game – but Jesse Wagstaff will almost certainly go down in history as an all-time great.
Should Wagstaff play his 450th NBL game in this weekend’s clash with Adelaide, it will be the 1846th NBL game since he made his debut in Round 1, 2009.
Wagstaff has played with 102 different teammates in his 15 seasons on the Wildcats’ roster. Only Ricky Grace has played more times than Wagstaff in a Wildcats jersey with 482 appearances, however Grace retired four seasons before Wagstaff’s debut.
Current teammate Alexandre Sarr had turned four just five months before Wagstaff played his first game in the NBL.
Alexandre Sarr had not started school when Jesse Wagstaff made his NBL debut.
Head coach John Rillie was 38 years old and in the final seasons of his playing career. Wagstaff’s first season in the NBL coincided with Rillie’s last, and while Wagstaff’s Perth and Rillie’s New Zealand played each other three times that season the pair only faced off twice.
Rillie’s New Zealand won the opening meeting of the pair 83-74 in Round 8 off the back of 23 points from Tom Abercrombie, while Wagstaff’s Wildcats defeated the Breakers 106-100 in Round 12 thanks to 18 points from Martin Cattalini.
Jesse Wagstaff drives past John Rillie for a layup in 2009.
He’s the 30th player in NBL history to reach the 450-game milestone, and the first since Adam Gibson in 2021. He now sits outright behind former teammate Cattalini (452) on the all-time games played list and has moved ahead of Warwick Giddey (449).
He’s played with two NBL MVPs who have combined for five awards each. Wagstaff was named as the NBL’s Best Sixth Man and Most Improved Player in the year Kevin Lisch won his first of two league MVPs – and only one with the Wildcats – while Bryce Cotton has won all three of his MVP awards playing alongside Wagstaff with the Wildcats.
Jesse Wagstaff and Bryce Cotton playing together in 2018.
“We broke bread a bit about that yesterday. 450 itself is a great milestone but to do it for one club – that’s the thing that people probably don’t give the credit to. He’s been here through ownership change, coaching change, teammate change, and he survived so he’s doing something right … good luck to him with it all because he deserves whatever he gets from this, it’s an unbelievable achievement for him.” – Wildcats head coach John Rillie
"He has been so imperative, so important, he’s brought out the best in all of his teammates. They don’t win six championships between 2009 and 2020 without Jesse Wagstaff. They don’t have the environment they’ve created at the Wildcats for over a decade without Jesse Wagstaff. He’s been as important – if not more – than any other player that’s been on that roster, and that includes Shawn Redhage, Bryce Cotton, James Ellis, Kevin Lisch. You say those names you have to include Jesse Wagstaff.” – Former teammate and six-time NBL champion Damian Martin on SEN.
Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff in 2012.
“This is a game to get up and about and get the job done for Jesse. He’s an absolute legend not just of that club – although he is a legend there in a very, very big way … but he’s a legend of this league as well … when you think about the fact he’s joining a club that only has 29 other people in it all-time to have played 450 NBL games, and the fact he’s done that with one club, he’s an out and out champion and a legend of the league, and combine all of that with the fact he’s such a great bloke as well ... big shoutout to Jesse.” NBL analyst Liam Santamaria on NBL Now.
“You think about success in the NBL as a whole, Wagstaff’s right up there. He’s been a stalwart in that regard and the reason they brought him back is because you want his presence in the locker room. He’s still moving pretty well for his age, which I commend him for … he’s an incredible human being and I’m glad he can achieve such a great milestone.” – NBL analyst Peter Hooley on NBL Now.
“In my time Jesse was better coming off the bench, he was the last big off the bench towards the end of the first quarter, and at the start of the second quarter I would try and start Jesse, Damo (Damian Martin) and Greg (Hire) because they played great basketball together.” – Former Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson on The Dribble podcast.
Greg Hire, Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff celebrate Martin's retirement in 2020.
“While I’m still enjoying it and while I’m still feeling good, why not? I still feel good and I still enjoy it. It’s been a pretty good ride ... it was a really good environment and still is. Perth’s a great city, now the kids are in school – basketball’s a big part of why I stayed but it’s not the only thing. That environment at the Wildcats, the people, the relationships was huge. Life is always bigger than basketball." - Jesse Wagstaff on SEN.
"Jesse is an absolute legend of not only the club, but the NBL. For us to be able to be involved in such a big milestone for him is just amazing. I've been there for his 400th and that kind of stuff, but it's just an unbelievable achievement that shouldn't be taken lightly." - Perth teammate Kyle Zunic on SEN.
6x NBL champion (2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
NBL Cup (2021)
NBL Rookie of the Year (2010)
NBL Best Sixth Man (2012)
All-NBL Third Team (2012)
Commonwealth Games Gold Medal (Basketball, 2018)
Commonwealth Games Silver Medal (3x3, 2022)
Perth Wildcats captain (2020-present)
Second all-time Wildcats appearances (449*)
Jesse Wagstaff celebrates the 2014 NBL title.
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