Latest news with #Adelaide36ers
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-NBA big man back at Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are shaping as NBL championship heavyweights after announcing ex-NBA player Montrezl Harrell would return to a roster now also boasting Bryce Cotton. Former NBA sixth man of the year Harrell was among the competition's best forwards last season, averaging 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for Adelaide. Harrell was initially recruited as an injury replacement for fellow American Jarell Martin, but saw the season out at the Sixers and was named in the All-NBL Second Team. Lock your doors... because the MONSTA IS BACK 👹You heard that right - Montrezl Harrell is returning to the 36ers on 1 year deal 😤Read more ➡ — Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) May 28, 2025 He became beloved by Adelaide fans for his on-court showmanship and physicality and forged a fruitful combination with Kendric Davis, who has since joined the Sydney Kings. Harrell's chemistry with new guard Cotton, one of the NBL's greatest-ever players, looms as crucial to the Sixers' hopes of a first championship since 2002. "Montrezl is a unique piece in the NBL with his size, power and overall skillset," said Sixers general manager of basketball Matt Weston. "There's nobody like him in this competition and we saw it first-hand last season, he's hard to stop." Harrell joins local centre Isaac Humphries and shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic as a key player for the 36ers, who have one roster spot remaining. Prior to his debut season with Adelaide, Harrell played 547 NBA games and is perhaps best remembered for a three-year stint at the Los Angeles Clippers, with whom he won the 2019/20 sixth man of the year award.
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Cotton 'changes everything' for his new NBL side
Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells has shrugged off suggestions Bryce Cotton's bombshell arrival has rocketed the long-time NBL underachievers into championship favouritism. But he concedes the surprise signing "changes everything" for the Sixers, whose owner has likened Cotton's influence to that of American sporting legends Tom Brady and Michael Jordan. Widely regarded among the league's greatest-ever players, Cotton appeared lost to the NBL when he rejected Perth's rich contract extension and declared he would unlikely sign for a rival. Cotton had been linked with a move to Japan but on Friday morning, the Sixers confirmed they'd signed the American combo guard on a three-year deal. Five-time NBL MVP Cotton is the perfect replacement for outgoing guard Kendric Davis and helps the Sixers continue a regeneration that yielded their first finals appearance in seven seasons last year. "You don't get the opportunity to add this kind of talent to your mix very often," said second-year coach Mike Wells. "I can talk about reshaping the 36ers' culture and the locker room and what we want to do on the court and all these things. "But instantly when you put Bryce Cotton on your roster, it changes everything. It just changes everything, the moment he walks in." Cotton is expected to partner local shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic in the Sixers' starting back-court and joins Flynn Cameron, Matt Kenyon, Isaac White and Michael Harris as new additions this season. Wells would not be drawn to comment on whether signing three-time NBL champion Cotton made the club the team to beat in the 2025/26 season. "I don't know. That's for you guys to debate," he told reporters. Cotton appeared in the All-NBL First Team every year from 2018 until 2025 and became the gold standard for import signings across nine seasons with the Wildcats. Last season was arguably the greatest of his NBL career, with the 32-year-old posting putting up a record-breaking 59 points in a clash with the New Zealand Breakers in December. Cotton averaged a league-best 28.1 points per game last season and now reunites with Wells - an assistant coach at the Utah Jazz during his brief NBA stint. "It genuinely is a gamechanger," Sixers owner Grant Kelley said of Cotton's arrival. "Every now and then you get a generational player in sports. "If you look at the NFL it's probably Tom Brady, (Wayne) Gretsky in hockey and of course Michael Jordan in basketball. "If you look at the NBL in the last 10 years, Bryce Cotton is the player, maybe there's one or two others, but he's the players who can consistently exert his influence on a team sport." Cotton, who is currently playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo, will join the Sixers for pre-season training in coming months. Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells has shrugged off suggestions Bryce Cotton's bombshell arrival has rocketed the long-time NBL underachievers into championship favouritism. But he concedes the surprise signing "changes everything" for the Sixers, whose owner has likened Cotton's influence to that of American sporting legends Tom Brady and Michael Jordan. Widely regarded among the league's greatest-ever players, Cotton appeared lost to the NBL when he rejected Perth's rich contract extension and declared he would unlikely sign for a rival. Cotton had been linked with a move to Japan but on Friday morning, the Sixers confirmed they'd signed the American combo guard on a three-year deal. Five-time NBL MVP Cotton is the perfect replacement for outgoing guard Kendric Davis and helps the Sixers continue a regeneration that yielded their first finals appearance in seven seasons last year. "You don't get the opportunity to add this kind of talent to your mix very often," said second-year coach Mike Wells. "I can talk about reshaping the 36ers' culture and the locker room and what we want to do on the court and all these things. "But instantly when you put Bryce Cotton on your roster, it changes everything. It just changes everything, the moment he walks in." Cotton is expected to partner local shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic in the Sixers' starting back-court and joins Flynn Cameron, Matt Kenyon, Isaac White and Michael Harris as new additions this season. Wells would not be drawn to comment on whether signing three-time NBL champion Cotton made the club the team to beat in the 2025/26 season. "I don't know. That's for you guys to debate," he told reporters. Cotton appeared in the All-NBL First Team every year from 2018 until 2025 and became the gold standard for import signings across nine seasons with the Wildcats. Last season was arguably the greatest of his NBL career, with the 32-year-old posting putting up a record-breaking 59 points in a clash with the New Zealand Breakers in December. Cotton averaged a league-best 28.1 points per game last season and now reunites with Wells - an assistant coach at the Utah Jazz during his brief NBA stint. "It genuinely is a gamechanger," Sixers owner Grant Kelley said of Cotton's arrival. "Every now and then you get a generational player in sports. "If you look at the NFL it's probably Tom Brady, (Wayne) Gretsky in hockey and of course Michael Jordan in basketball. "If you look at the NBL in the last 10 years, Bryce Cotton is the player, maybe there's one or two others, but he's the players who can consistently exert his influence on a team sport." Cotton, who is currently playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo, will join the Sixers for pre-season training in coming months. Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells has shrugged off suggestions Bryce Cotton's bombshell arrival has rocketed the long-time NBL underachievers into championship favouritism. But he concedes the surprise signing "changes everything" for the Sixers, whose owner has likened Cotton's influence to that of American sporting legends Tom Brady and Michael Jordan. Widely regarded among the league's greatest-ever players, Cotton appeared lost to the NBL when he rejected Perth's rich contract extension and declared he would unlikely sign for a rival. Cotton had been linked with a move to Japan but on Friday morning, the Sixers confirmed they'd signed the American combo guard on a three-year deal. Five-time NBL MVP Cotton is the perfect replacement for outgoing guard Kendric Davis and helps the Sixers continue a regeneration that yielded their first finals appearance in seven seasons last year. "You don't get the opportunity to add this kind of talent to your mix very often," said second-year coach Mike Wells. "I can talk about reshaping the 36ers' culture and the locker room and what we want to do on the court and all these things. "But instantly when you put Bryce Cotton on your roster, it changes everything. It just changes everything, the moment he walks in." Cotton is expected to partner local shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic in the Sixers' starting back-court and joins Flynn Cameron, Matt Kenyon, Isaac White and Michael Harris as new additions this season. Wells would not be drawn to comment on whether signing three-time NBL champion Cotton made the club the team to beat in the 2025/26 season. "I don't know. That's for you guys to debate," he told reporters. Cotton appeared in the All-NBL First Team every year from 2018 until 2025 and became the gold standard for import signings across nine seasons with the Wildcats. Last season was arguably the greatest of his NBL career, with the 32-year-old posting putting up a record-breaking 59 points in a clash with the New Zealand Breakers in December. Cotton averaged a league-best 28.1 points per game last season and now reunites with Wells - an assistant coach at the Utah Jazz during his brief NBA stint. "It genuinely is a gamechanger," Sixers owner Grant Kelley said of Cotton's arrival. "Every now and then you get a generational player in sports. "If you look at the NFL it's probably Tom Brady, (Wayne) Gretsky in hockey and of course Michael Jordan in basketball. "If you look at the NBL in the last 10 years, Bryce Cotton is the player, maybe there's one or two others, but he's the players who can consistently exert his influence on a team sport." Cotton, who is currently playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo, will join the Sixers for pre-season training in coming months.
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Farewell Perth: NBL icon locks in surprise return
The Adelaide 36ers have confirmed one of the biggest signing coups in NBL history, luring Bryce Cotton back to the league after he appeared likely to have played his last game. Reports of the signing emerged on Thursday night before the Sixers confirmed on Friday morning that Cotton would join on a three-year deal. It comes only months after the man widely regarded among the NBL's greatest-ever players knocked back a rich contract extension at Perth and said he was unlikely to play for another NBL team. The American combo guard had been linked with a move to the Japanese team coached by Trevor Gleeson, under whom he won three championships at the Wildcats. Instead, Cotton's arrival at the Sixers looms as a major boost for a side that returned to the post-season this year for the first time since 2018. "The opportunity to bring in one of the all-time greats of the NBL is hard to pass up," said Sixers general manager of basketball Matt Weston."Bryce has a history of winning championships, of personal and team excellence, and he's going to help us transform our culture and our standards to build a team capable of winning championships." Cotton looms as the perfect replacement for outgoing Sixers guard and fellow American Kendric Davis, who will join NBL rivals the Sydney Kings. In nine seasons at the Wildcats, Cotton was named NBL most valuable player five times and appeared in the All-NBL First Team every year from 2018 until 2025. Last season was arguably the greatest of his NBL career, with the 32-year-old posting putting up a record-breaking 59 points in a clash with the New Zealand Breakers in December. He averaged 28.1 points per game, the most of any player. Cotton reunites with Sixers coach Mike Wells, who had been on the Utah Jazz's coaching staff during his brief stint playing in the NBA. Cotton is expected to partner local shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic in the Sixers' back-court and joins Flynn Cameron, Matt Kenyon, Isaac White and Michael Harris as new additions this season. "We're really excited about who we've been able to bring in so far, but then to be able to bring in a guy like Bryce Cotton, it just takes our reshaping efforts to a new level," Wells said."He brings a unique set of skills and talents to an already talented group, and we're excited by what the future looks like." Cotton, who is currently playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo, will join the Sixers for pre-season training in coming months. The Adelaide 36ers have confirmed one of the biggest signing coups in NBL history, luring Bryce Cotton back to the league after he appeared likely to have played his last game. Reports of the signing emerged on Thursday night before the Sixers confirmed on Friday morning that Cotton would join on a three-year deal. It comes only months after the man widely regarded among the NBL's greatest-ever players knocked back a rich contract extension at Perth and said he was unlikely to play for another NBL team. The American combo guard had been linked with a move to the Japanese team coached by Trevor Gleeson, under whom he won three championships at the Wildcats. Instead, Cotton's arrival at the Sixers looms as a major boost for a side that returned to the post-season this year for the first time since 2018. "The opportunity to bring in one of the all-time greats of the NBL is hard to pass up," said Sixers general manager of basketball Matt Weston."Bryce has a history of winning championships, of personal and team excellence, and he's going to help us transform our culture and our standards to build a team capable of winning championships." Cotton looms as the perfect replacement for outgoing Sixers guard and fellow American Kendric Davis, who will join NBL rivals the Sydney Kings. In nine seasons at the Wildcats, Cotton was named NBL most valuable player five times and appeared in the All-NBL First Team every year from 2018 until 2025. Last season was arguably the greatest of his NBL career, with the 32-year-old posting putting up a record-breaking 59 points in a clash with the New Zealand Breakers in December. He averaged 28.1 points per game, the most of any player. Cotton reunites with Sixers coach Mike Wells, who had been on the Utah Jazz's coaching staff during his brief stint playing in the NBA. Cotton is expected to partner local shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic in the Sixers' back-court and joins Flynn Cameron, Matt Kenyon, Isaac White and Michael Harris as new additions this season. "We're really excited about who we've been able to bring in so far, but then to be able to bring in a guy like Bryce Cotton, it just takes our reshaping efforts to a new level," Wells said."He brings a unique set of skills and talents to an already talented group, and we're excited by what the future looks like." Cotton, who is currently playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo, will join the Sixers for pre-season training in coming months. The Adelaide 36ers have confirmed one of the biggest signing coups in NBL history, luring Bryce Cotton back to the league after he appeared likely to have played his last game. Reports of the signing emerged on Thursday night before the Sixers confirmed on Friday morning that Cotton would join on a three-year deal. It comes only months after the man widely regarded among the NBL's greatest-ever players knocked back a rich contract extension at Perth and said he was unlikely to play for another NBL team. The American combo guard had been linked with a move to the Japanese team coached by Trevor Gleeson, under whom he won three championships at the Wildcats. Instead, Cotton's arrival at the Sixers looms as a major boost for a side that returned to the post-season this year for the first time since 2018. "The opportunity to bring in one of the all-time greats of the NBL is hard to pass up," said Sixers general manager of basketball Matt Weston."Bryce has a history of winning championships, of personal and team excellence, and he's going to help us transform our culture and our standards to build a team capable of winning championships." Cotton looms as the perfect replacement for outgoing Sixers guard and fellow American Kendric Davis, who will join NBL rivals the Sydney Kings. In nine seasons at the Wildcats, Cotton was named NBL most valuable player five times and appeared in the All-NBL First Team every year from 2018 until 2025. Last season was arguably the greatest of his NBL career, with the 32-year-old posting putting up a record-breaking 59 points in a clash with the New Zealand Breakers in December. He averaged 28.1 points per game, the most of any player. Cotton reunites with Sixers coach Mike Wells, who had been on the Utah Jazz's coaching staff during his brief stint playing in the NBA. Cotton is expected to partner local shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic in the Sixers' back-court and joins Flynn Cameron, Matt Kenyon, Isaac White and Michael Harris as new additions this season. "We're really excited about who we've been able to bring in so far, but then to be able to bring in a guy like Bryce Cotton, it just takes our reshaping efforts to a new level," Wells said."He brings a unique set of skills and talents to an already talented group, and we're excited by what the future looks like." Cotton, who is currently playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo, will join the Sixers for pre-season training in coming months.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Farewell Perth: NBL icon locks in surprise return
The Adelaide 36ers have confirmed one of the biggest signing coups in NBL history, luring Bryce Cotton back to the league after he appeared likely to have played his last game. Reports of the signing emerged on Thursday night before the Sixers confirmed on Friday morning that Cotton would join on a three-year deal. It comes only months after the man widely regarded among the NBL's greatest-ever players knocked back a rich contract extension at Perth and said he was unlikely to play for another NBL team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adelaide 36ers (@adelaide36ers) The American combo guard had been linked with a move to the Japanese team coached by Trevor Gleeson, under whom he won three championships at the Wildcats. Instead, Cotton's arrival at the Sixers looms as a major boost for a side that returned to the post-season this year for the first time since 2018. "The opportunity to bring in one of the all-time greats of the NBL is hard to pass up," said Sixers general manager of basketball Matt Weston. "Bryce has a history of winning championships, of personal and team excellence, and he's going to help us transform our culture and our standards to build a team capable of winning championships." Cotton looms as the perfect replacement for outgoing Sixers guard and fellow American Kendric Davis, who will join NBL rivals the Sydney Kings. In nine seasons at the Wildcats, Cotton was named NBL most valuable player five times and appeared in the All-NBL First Team every year from 2018 until 2025. Last season was arguably the greatest of his NBL career, with the 32-year-old posting putting up a record-breaking 59 points in a clash with the New Zealand Breakers in December. He averaged 28.1 points per game, the most of any player. Cotton reunites with Sixers coach Mike Wells, who had been on the Utah Jazz's coaching staff during his brief stint playing in the NBA. Cotton is expected to partner local shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic in the Sixers' back-court and joins Flynn Cameron, Matt Kenyon, Isaac White and Michael Harris as new additions this season. "We're really excited about who we've been able to bring in so far, but then to be able to bring in a guy like Bryce Cotton, it just takes our reshaping efforts to a new level," Wells said. "He brings a unique set of skills and talents to an already talented group, and we're excited by what the future looks like." Cotton, who is currently playing for Puerto Rican side Mets de Guaynabo, will join the Sixers for pre-season training in coming months.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBL legend Bryce Cotton set for bombshell Sixers move
NBL legend Bryce Cotton is set to announce a bombshell move to the Adelaide 36ers just two months after turning down a monster contract offer from the Perth Wildcats. Cotton has reportedly agreed a three-year deal with the Sixers, which could be confirmed as soon as Friday. Adelaide appeared to hint at the American guard's signing in a social media post on Thursday evening. The post included apparent references to Cotton's five NBL MVP seasons and his six tallies of 40 or more points in the most recent campaign. 🤔👀 — Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) May 22, 2025 Cotton has ties to the Sixers through coach Mike Wells, who was an assistant at NBA team Utah Jazz when the sharpshooter was there. Adelaide also have plenty of salary cap space after Kendric Davis joined the Sydney Kings. Fellow import and former NBA player Montrezl Harrell is not signed for next season. A move to the Sixers would be a significant backflip from Cotton, who previously declared he would not play for another Australian team. "Nah, I don't think that's a possibility for me," Cotton said in March after ending his nine-year association with Perth. The Wildcats had reportedly offered Cotton a deal that would have made him the highest-paid player in NBL history. After turning it down, Cotton was widely tipped to move overseas and was linked with a move to Japan under former Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson. Cotton, a three-time championship-winner, is widely considered one of the greatest players in league history. He has won the Andrew Gaze Trophy as the NBL's MVP five times, with only Gaze himself named the league's best player more often (seven times). Cotton was the Wildcats' club MVP a record seven times and is an eight-time NBL scoring champion. He is coming off one of the greatest individual seasons in NBL history, when he averaged 28.1 points per game. Cotton's remarkable scoring run included six games with 40 or more points in the regular season, including 59 against NZ Breakers in December. Cotton has been playing on a short-term deal for Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico since the NBL season ended in March.
