Bryce in blue: 'Everything lined up' to join 36ers

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Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton — wearing a blue polo 👀 — was coy about whether the now-stacked 36ers were a championship contender in NBL26 after touching down in Adelaide.

“I guess we’re gonna find out, aren’t we? Cotton said.

Cotton, 33, stunned Perth Wildcats fans and teammates when he signed with the Adelaide 36ers on May 22, 2025.

“Everything lined up,” Cotton revealed.

“It made sense for me personally, it made sense for my family, and we wanted to make that move after weighing out all the pros and cons, obviously before the season started.”

The shooting guard left the Wildcats after he was named the league's best player (again) last season after a career-high average in points, scoring 28.1 points per game while also recording 4.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game as Perth made it to the semi-finals before being beaten by Melbourne United.

Cotton left the Wildcats and the end of NBL25 in controversial circumstances with both parties pointing the finger at the other.

The dust has somewhat settled and Cotton declared he was ready to get down to business, alongside former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, big man Isaac Humphries and three-point sniper Dejan “DJ” Vasiljevic.

“You never know what the season’s going to be like until you’re actually on the court with them,” Cotton said.

“But yeah, I’ve spoken to a few teammates. Obviously, DJ came and welcomed me — that was a surprise

“I’m looking forward to getting the practices and all that under the belt though.

“DJ is a hell of a shooter. So, it’ll be great to play alongside him, because he’s had quite some good games against us over the years.

“So, I don’t have to deal with that no more.”

Cotton returns to Perth to play the Wildcats at RAC Arena in Round 8 on December 7.

“I expect them (Red Army) to be how they always been,” Cotton said.

“They’re a very rowdy crowd. The only difference is, you know, I’m not on their side.

“I have no idea to be honest with you. So, all of that will be pretty new for me.

“But all I can do is be me and hope everybody accepts me.”

Cotton had vowed to burn the back page of the West Australian newspaper that branded him the Lying King when he signed with the 36ers.

“It’ll be good to get into Perth,” added.

“I get to see, you know, my other side of the family. And outside of that, I’m not worried about it, because I know they’ll be excited to see me. So that’s what counts.

The 36ers have rebuilt their roster during the 2025 off-season as a win-now ball club.

“I’m ready for it,” Cotton said.

“It’s been a lot of talk, a lot of chatter. But you know, none of it matters until you go out there on the floor.

“So, to get that feel — what it’s like with the guys and seeing how quickly I guess we can get our chemistry — that’s the exciting part.”

2025-26 Adelaide 36ers (Roster Complete)

Head Coach: Mike Wells

Potential Line-up

1. ‍PG: Bryce Cotton (IP) | Isaac White | Keanu Rasmussen‍
2. SG: DJ Vasiljevic | Michael Harris‍
3. SF: Flynn Cameron | Matt Kenyon | Deng Manyang (DP)‍
4. PF: Montrezl Harrell (IP) | Zylan Cheatham (IP) | Magok Manyang (DP)
5. C: Isaac Humphries | Ben Griscti

‍IP: Import
DP: Development Player

Contracted Players

• Ben Griscti
• DJ Vasiljevic
• Isaac Humphries
• Keanu Rasmussen
• Montrezl Harrell (Import)

Incoming Players

• Bryce Cotton (from Perth Wildcats – Import)
• Deng Manyang (Development Player)
• Flynn Cameron (from Melbourne United)
• Isaac White (from Brisbane Bullets)
• Matt Kenyon (from South East Melbourne Phoenix)
• Michael Harris (from Perth Wildcats)
• Zylan Cheatham (from Nagoya Diamond Dolphins – Import)

Departed Players

• Alex Starling
• Jason Cadee (Retired)
• Kendric Davis (to Sydney Kings)
• Lat Mayen (to Perth Wildcats)
• Nick Marshall (to Tasmania JackJumpers)
• Sunday Dech (to Perth Wildcats)

Free Agents

• Fiston Ipassou
• Jacob Rigoni
• Jarell Martin
• Patrick D'Arcy
• Tom Kubank