Bryce Cotton's first game against Wildcats in Perth revealed
The NBL has released their fixture, and all eyes were on when they'd send Cotton back to WA.
Cotton has signed a three-year deal to play for the 36ers after nine-and-a-half seasons with the Wildcats where he won three championships and five NBL MVP awards.
He will have home court advantage when he first plays against Perth, given the initial clash will be in Adelaide on November 9. But the NBL has added plenty of drama to the season by giving Cotton another game at RAC Arena in the last round of the regular season.
Ladder positions have gone down to the wire in recent seasons, and Cotton could be playing to either give the 36ers a massive advantage in the finals or make life tough for Perth. Bryce Cotton. Credit: James Worsfold / Getty Images
The fourth clash between the 36ers and Wildcats will be played in Adelaide on December 28.
Perth will have four games against the 36ers, Cairns, Illawarra, South East Melbourne and Tasmania. They will have three matches against Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand as part of the league's expanded 33-game schedule.
All 17 of Perth's home games have been fixtured at RAC Arena.
Six of those matches will be on Friday nights, there are four on Thursday, two on Wednesday, three on Saturday and two on Sunday.
The Wildcats' final game at RAC Arena before losing access to the venue for tennis will be on December 18 and then they'll travel for five consecutive matches before returning home for HoopsFest on January 16. Jesse Wagstaff. Credit: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images
The NBL season will again start in mid-December with the Wildcats opening their season against Tasmania on September 20. Perth will also play on AFL grand final day, with their away match against New Zealand scheduled to tip off shortly after the premiership is won.
Rnd 1 Saturday September 20 v Tasmania JackJumpers at RAC Arena, 6pm WST
Rnd 2 Saturday September 27 v New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena, 3.30pm WST
Rnd 3 Thursday October 2 v Illawarra Hawks at RAC Arena, 7.30pm WST
Rnd 4 Friday October 10 v Cairns Taipans at Cairns Convention Centre, 4.30pm WST
Rnd 5 Wednesday October 15 v Brisbane Bullets at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 5 Sunday October 19 v Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena,1.30pm WST
Rnd 6 Wednesday October 22 v Cairns Taipans at Cairns Convention Centre, 4.30pm WST
Rnd 6 Saturday October 25 v Illawarra Hawks at RAC Arena, 5pm WST
Rnd 7 Wednesday October 29 v Tasmania JackJumpers at MyState Bank Arena, 4.30pm WST
Rnd 7 Sunday November 2 v Sth East Melbourne Phoenix v John Cain Arena, 11.30am WST
Rnd 8 Sunday November 9 v Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre,11.30am WST
Rnd 9 Saturday November 15 v New Zealand Breakers at RAC Arena, 5pm WST
Rnd 10 Friday November 21 v Tasmania JackJumpers at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 10 Sunday November 23 v Melbourne United at John Cain Arena, 1.30pm WST
Rnd 11 Thursday December 4 v Melbourne United at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 11 Sunday December 7 v Adelaide 36ers at RAC Arena, 1.30pm WST
Rnd 12 Friday December 12 v Sydney Kings at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 12 Sunday December 14 v Brisbane Bullets at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, 1.30pm WST
Rnd 13 Thursday December 18 v Sth East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 13 Sunday December 21 v Tasmania JackJumpers at MyState Bank Arena, 11.30am WST
Rnd 14 Sunday December 28 v Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre,11.30am WST
Rnd 15 Thursday January 1 v Brisbane Bullets at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, 4.30pm WST
Rnd 15 Sunday January 4 v New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena,11.30am WST
Rnd 16 Saturday January 10 v Sth East Melbourne Phoenix at State Basketball Centre, 5pm WST
Rnd 17 Friday January 16 v Illawarra Hawks at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 18 Thursday January 22 v Cairns Taipans at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 18 Sunday January 25 v Melbourne United at RAC Arena, 1.30pm WST
Rnd 19 Wednesday January 28 v Sth East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 19 Saturday January 31 v Illawarra Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre, 5pm WST
Rnd 20 Friday February 6 v Cairns Taipans at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 21 Friday February 13 v Brisbane Bullets at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Rnd 21 Sunday February 15 v Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena,1.30pm WST
Rnd 22 Friday February 20 v Adelaide 36ers at RAC Arena, 6.30pm WST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
The NBL has secured its next broadcast rights deal that will stream the competition onto Disney+
Sundays will remain home to the NBL on free-to-air television, with all 166 games of season 2025-26 to remain live on Kayo Sports after the league locked in a new broadcast deal that will extend its partnership with ESPN onto Disney+. But, after months of negotiations and a long back and forth, hopes the new Ignite Cup in-season tournament would take pride of place in prime time on the Seven Network on Wednesday nights have been dashed. CODE Sports has been told the the two parties were unable to reach agreement on which medium the games would be broadcast on. Network 10 will broadcast two games every Sunday — one on its main channel at 2.30pm AEDT, the other on the rebranded 10 Drama at 4.30pm AEDT. With an estimated 3.7 million subscribers, ESPN's move to Disney+ has opened up a huge new audience for the NBL, which has built its monumental rise on a sporting and entertainment product that has become the most family-friendly in the country. All games can be watched on ESPN through Kayo, Foxtel and Fetch TV in Australia, and Sky in New Zealand. 'We are thrilled to extend our distribution agreement with ESPN, and will continue to work closely together to ensure even more people can connect and access live NBL games,' NBL Group chief executive David Stevenson said. 'This new agreement reflects the NBL's remarkable evolution and increasing popularity, and marks another big step forward in the growth of our league. 'Our Broadcast audiences have grown by 106 per cent over the past three seasons and we are confident this new deal will ensure that trend continues as we continue to be the fastest growing professional sporting league in the country.' Every game of the league's pre-season tournament, the NBL Blitz, which begins next Wednesday, will be shown live on ESPN from Canberra, while the Ignite Cup will be a Wednesday night ESPN special throughout the season. Interest in the NBL has never been higher, with massive off-season moves, including five-time MVP Bryce Cotton's monumental move from Perth to Adelaide and Boomers great Matthew Dellavedova's shift from Melbourne to Sydney, along with the return of NBA firebrand Montrezl Harrell to Adelaide, Olympic hero Jack McVeigh's million-dollar Cairns coup and the arrival of two-time NBA champion Javale McGee at champion Illawarra. 'We have seen the biggest off-season shake-up in history, which has created a wave of anticipation unlike anything we've seen before,' Stevenson said. 'All 10 teams have a legitimate chance of winning the championship and I firmly believe the NBL26 season will be one of the best ever.' The season tips off on September 18, with Melbourne United taking on bitter rival Tasmania.
The Australian
8 hours ago
- The Australian
NBL EuroLeague tournament in Sydney cut to one day after draw change
The NBL has been forced to cancel the second day of its EuroLeague extravaganza in Sydney this September due to an 'unforeseen' draw change. Code Sports can reveal an earlier start date for the 2025/26 EuroLeague season – now September 30 – has prompted officials to call off the Monday night Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament event on September 22. Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers were to play a second round of games against European giants Panathinaikos BC and KK Partizan at Qudos Bank Arena. The Kings and 36ers will still take on the EuroLeague teams on the Sunday, September 21. Panathinaikos BC and KK Partizan will also kickstart the first Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament outside of Europe with a blockbuster clash against each other in Melbourne on Thursday, September 18. As a result, fans that purchased tickets can either join the PGT event on Sunday, September 21, with tickets seamlessly moved at no additional cost or opt for a full refund. 'We know how much fans look forward to these moments, so we regret any disappointment this may cause,' an NBL spokesman told Code Sports. It comes as the NBL will split John Cain Arena in two for September's EuroLeague showdown between Panathinaikos BC and KK Partizan in a bid to highlight one of biggest rivalries in world basketball. The Panathinaikos BC and KK Partizan teams are loaded with former NBA talent, headlined by gun Panathinaikos shooting guard Kendrick Nunn. Nunn – who has played 212 NBA games for Miami, LA and Washington – is the reigning EuroLeague MVP. He is currently on a three-year deal with Panathinaikos worth over $22 million as the highest paid player in EuroLeague history. The NBL is tipping a bumper crowd to fill John Cain Arena to create a unique occasion. 'We're expecting an atmosphere unlike anything Australian basketball has ever seen,' an NBL spokesman said. 'The visual of two fan bases side-by-side, each driving their team with relentless passion, will be electric. It's what makes European basketball so special, and we're thrilled to bring that to our shores.' The NBL also weighed in on separating the fans from Panathinaikos and Partizan, revealing the decision reflects the deep respect the league has for both clubs. 'It allows fans to express themselves the way they do back home,' the league said. 'Whether you're sitting on the Partizan side or the Panathinaikos side, you're going to feel part of something unforgettable. This isn't just a basketball game, it's a cultural celebration. A meeting of two of the most passionate fan bases in the world, right here in Melbourne.'
West Australian
21 hours ago
- West Australian
Perth Wildcats singlets: Club unveils new playing uniform ahead of NBL season as rebrand continues
Perth Wildcats have released their new uniforms for the upcoming season as they count down the days until their first appearance on court. The Wildcats have tinkered with the design from last season, changing the font to reflect their re-brand and making the club name white across the middle of the jersey. The club will continue to wear red as their home uniform, while they've released a black version for away matches. Owner Mark Arena announced a re-brand earlier this year which included a new logo and there are references to that in the new jersey, with furry lines featured on the uniform. Perth will start their campaign on Friday night with an intraclub match at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre. That will follow their Academy team also taking part in an intraclub game. The Wildcats will also host an international series in September with Japan's Ryukyu Golden Kings and Sunrockers Shibuy travelling to WA to play pre-season games. South East Melbourne Phoenix will also take part in that tournament at Perth High Performance Centre. Those matches will follow the NBL Blitz in Canberra. All eyes are on the club at the moment as they look to replace superstar Bryce Cotton. He has signed with Adelaide 36ers and returned to Australia this week to begin training with his new team. The Wildcats still have one spot remaining on their roster and fans are waiting to see who they will sign as an import. Perth have made some key signings in recent weeks with Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Ben Henshall committing to the club. Import pair Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler are returning, while Sunday Dech and Lat Mayen have moved to Perth from Adelaide. The Wildcats will play their first game of the regular season at RAC Arena against Tasmania JackJumpers on September 20.
