Latest news with #BryceCotton
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Perth Wildcats owner Mark Arena responds to Bryce Cotton bombshell that NBL club parted ways with him
Bryce Cotton dropped a bombshell when he claimed the Perth Wildcats parted ways with him. Now, the club's owner Mark Arena has responded. Cotton revealed the Wildcats ultimately made the call after he refused to make a quick decision about his contract offer at the end of the season. The Five-time NBL MVP has since signed with the Adelaide 36s in a move that shocked the sport. 'As much as people say why did I leave the Wildcats, I didn't technically leave,' Cotton said on The EasyDay Show podcast. 'The Wildcats parted ways with me because I wasn't willing to give an answer back in March.' Cotton said he had told the club he wanted to explore his free agency options when the Wildcats sent his manager a rough draft of an announcement that he was leaving. Instead, he took matters into his own hands. 'When I saw that, I'm like 'No. I'm not going to let you put the word out to the fans. I'll let them hear it from me first because if that's what you decided to do, everything I've given to this city, everything I've given to the club, I'll tell you first I'm not going to be here. 'But they made the business decision to part ways because they didn't want to wait, which is fine. But I don't want to hear all this bitching and complaining when I'm doing what I feel is best for me as a result.' After the bombshell revelations, Arena told the NBL XXXX
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Wildcats respond to Bryce's NBL bombshell
Bryce Cotton dropped a bombshell when he claimed the Perth Wildcats parted ways with him. Now, the club's owner Mark Arena has responded. Cotton revealed the Wildcats ultimately made the call after he refused to make a quick decision about his contract offer at the end of the season. The Five-time NBL MVP has since signed with the Adelaide 36s in a move that shocked the sport. 'As much as people say why did I leave the Wildcats, I didn't technically leave,' Cotton said on The EasyDay Show podcast. 'The Wildcats parted ways with me because I wasn't willing to give an answer back in March.' Cotton said he had told the club he wanted to explore his free agency options when the Wildcats sent his manager a rough draft of an announcement that he was leaving. Instead, he took matters into his own hands. 'When I saw that, I'm like 'No. I'm not going to let you put the word out to the fans. I'll let them hear it from me first because if that's what you decided to do, everything I've given to this city, everything I've given to the club, I'll tell you first I'm not going to be here. 'But they made the business decision to part ways because they didn't want to wait, which is fine. But I don't want to hear all this bitching and complaining when I'm doing what I feel is best for me as a result.' After the bombshell revelations, Arena told the NBL XXXX
Yahoo
6 days ago
- 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
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Rushed' Cotton blames Wildcats' demand for Perth exit
Bryce Cotton has blamed Perth management for his exit from the Wildcats, claiming the NBL club gave him too short a time frame to decide his playing future. But the Wildcats' owner has defended the club for making a "horrible" but apparently unavoidable decision to cut ties with one of the league's greatest ever players. Five-time NBL MVP Cotton raised eyebrows signing with the Adelaide 36ers last week, having knocked back the Wildcats' contract extension after nine years in Perth. But on Tuesday, the 32-year-old said the Wildcats were responsible for his decision to sign elsewhere by insisting he make a decision on his future before he had a proper chance to explore his options. "As much as people feel or say, 'Why did I leave the Wildcats?', I didn't technically leave," Cotton told the EasyDay podcast. "The Wildcats parted ways with me because I wasn't willing to give an answer back in March." Cotton had been open with the Wildcats about his desire to test his value on the open market after the 2024/25 season, which finished as the greatest yet of his already illustrious NBL career. The American had been linked with Japanese club Chiba Jets, coached by former Wildcats boss Trevor Gleeson, and played a handful of NBA games before arriving at the Wildcats. But Cotton claims the Wildcats were pushing him for an answer only days after he'd touched down in Puerto Rico for a brief off-season stint at Mets de Guaynabo. "At that point, I'm pretty sure the (NBL) grand final was still going on, Melbourne playing Illawarra," Cotton said. "I had my agent tell them, 'Look, honestly, giving y'all within the next two or three days after I'd gotten to Puerto Rico, that s***'s not enough time for me to make a decision. "Like not being no cocky or no arrogant s***, but I just had one of the greatest seasons in NBL history and I'm a free agent for the first time in forever. It couldn't have been a better time." It left Cotton feeling there was only one option, to leave the Wildcats, telling the club: "I want to test free agency. So if you guys feel like you want to move on, I understand, but that (two or thee days) is not enough time for me to make a decision." Wildcats owner Mark Arena has subsequently defended the Wildcats, telling NBL Now that the club did "everything we possibly could to sign (Cotton) with the time frame we had". But the Wildcats had eight other players hitting free agency, including key men Keanu Pinder and Dylan Windler, so felt they needed an answer on their talisman's future. "We didn't want to end up in a position where we were waiting and waiting and waiting (for an answer from Cotton) and we were at a point where other players perhaps started looking elsewhere," Arena said. "It's a massive decision, a horrible decision we had to make, which was wait longer and risk the whole squad and our success, or make the hard call and move on and build a roster with plenty of time to do that that can win a championship." Cotton insisted he remained close with the Wildcats playing roster and his final coach, John Rillie. "I'm happy there's not beef between me and JR, it's all love. We spoke after the decision with Adelaide was made as well. It's all good," Cotton said. Bryce Cotton has blamed Perth management for his exit from the Wildcats, claiming the NBL club gave him too short a time frame to decide his playing future. But the Wildcats' owner has defended the club for making a "horrible" but apparently unavoidable decision to cut ties with one of the league's greatest ever players. Five-time NBL MVP Cotton raised eyebrows signing with the Adelaide 36ers last week, having knocked back the Wildcats' contract extension after nine years in Perth. But on Tuesday, the 32-year-old said the Wildcats were responsible for his decision to sign elsewhere by insisting he make a decision on his future before he had a proper chance to explore his options. "As much as people feel or say, 'Why did I leave the Wildcats?', I didn't technically leave," Cotton told the EasyDay podcast. "The Wildcats parted ways with me because I wasn't willing to give an answer back in March." Cotton had been open with the Wildcats about his desire to test his value on the open market after the 2024/25 season, which finished as the greatest yet of his already illustrious NBL career. The American had been linked with Japanese club Chiba Jets, coached by former Wildcats boss Trevor Gleeson, and played a handful of NBA games before arriving at the Wildcats. But Cotton claims the Wildcats were pushing him for an answer only days after he'd touched down in Puerto Rico for a brief off-season stint at Mets de Guaynabo. "At that point, I'm pretty sure the (NBL) grand final was still going on, Melbourne playing Illawarra," Cotton said. "I had my agent tell them, 'Look, honestly, giving y'all within the next two or three days after I'd gotten to Puerto Rico, that s***'s not enough time for me to make a decision. "Like not being no cocky or no arrogant s***, but I just had one of the greatest seasons in NBL history and I'm a free agent for the first time in forever. It couldn't have been a better time." It left Cotton feeling there was only one option, to leave the Wildcats, telling the club: "I want to test free agency. So if you guys feel like you want to move on, I understand, but that (two or thee days) is not enough time for me to make a decision." Wildcats owner Mark Arena has subsequently defended the Wildcats, telling NBL Now that the club did "everything we possibly could to sign (Cotton) with the time frame we had". But the Wildcats had eight other players hitting free agency, including key men Keanu Pinder and Dylan Windler, so felt they needed an answer on their talisman's future. "We didn't want to end up in a position where we were waiting and waiting and waiting (for an answer from Cotton) and we were at a point where other players perhaps started looking elsewhere," Arena said. "It's a massive decision, a horrible decision we had to make, which was wait longer and risk the whole squad and our success, or make the hard call and move on and build a roster with plenty of time to do that that can win a championship." Cotton insisted he remained close with the Wildcats playing roster and his final coach, John Rillie. "I'm happy there's not beef between me and JR, it's all love. We spoke after the decision with Adelaide was made as well. It's all good," Cotton said. Bryce Cotton has blamed Perth management for his exit from the Wildcats, claiming the NBL club gave him too short a time frame to decide his playing future. But the Wildcats' owner has defended the club for making a "horrible" but apparently unavoidable decision to cut ties with one of the league's greatest ever players. Five-time NBL MVP Cotton raised eyebrows signing with the Adelaide 36ers last week, having knocked back the Wildcats' contract extension after nine years in Perth. But on Tuesday, the 32-year-old said the Wildcats were responsible for his decision to sign elsewhere by insisting he make a decision on his future before he had a proper chance to explore his options. "As much as people feel or say, 'Why did I leave the Wildcats?', I didn't technically leave," Cotton told the EasyDay podcast. "The Wildcats parted ways with me because I wasn't willing to give an answer back in March." Cotton had been open with the Wildcats about his desire to test his value on the open market after the 2024/25 season, which finished as the greatest yet of his already illustrious NBL career. The American had been linked with Japanese club Chiba Jets, coached by former Wildcats boss Trevor Gleeson, and played a handful of NBA games before arriving at the Wildcats. But Cotton claims the Wildcats were pushing him for an answer only days after he'd touched down in Puerto Rico for a brief off-season stint at Mets de Guaynabo. "At that point, I'm pretty sure the (NBL) grand final was still going on, Melbourne playing Illawarra," Cotton said. "I had my agent tell them, 'Look, honestly, giving y'all within the next two or three days after I'd gotten to Puerto Rico, that s***'s not enough time for me to make a decision. "Like not being no cocky or no arrogant s***, but I just had one of the greatest seasons in NBL history and I'm a free agent for the first time in forever. It couldn't have been a better time." It left Cotton feeling there was only one option, to leave the Wildcats, telling the club: "I want to test free agency. So if you guys feel like you want to move on, I understand, but that (two or thee days) is not enough time for me to make a decision." Wildcats owner Mark Arena has subsequently defended the Wildcats, telling NBL Now that the club did "everything we possibly could to sign (Cotton) with the time frame we had". But the Wildcats had eight other players hitting free agency, including key men Keanu Pinder and Dylan Windler, so felt they needed an answer on their talisman's future. "We didn't want to end up in a position where we were waiting and waiting and waiting (for an answer from Cotton) and we were at a point where other players perhaps started looking elsewhere," Arena said. "It's a massive decision, a horrible decision we had to make, which was wait longer and risk the whole squad and our success, or make the hard call and move on and build a roster with plenty of time to do that that can win a championship." Cotton insisted he remained close with the Wildcats playing roster and his final coach, John Rillie. "I'm happy there's not beef between me and JR, it's all love. We spoke after the decision with Adelaide was made as well. It's all good," Cotton said.
West Australian
7 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
'Rushed' Cotton blames Wildcats' demand for Perth exit
Bryce Cotton has blamed Perth management for his exit from the Wildcats, claiming the NBL club gave him too short a time frame to decide his playing future. But the Wildcats' owner has defended the club for making a "horrible" but apparently unavoidable decision to cut ties with one of the league's greatest ever players. Five-time NBL MVP Cotton raised eyebrows signing with the Adelaide 36ers last week, having knocked back the Wildcats' contract extension after nine years in Perth. But on Tuesday, the 32-year-old said the Wildcats were responsible for his decision to sign elsewhere by insisting he make a decision on his future before he had a proper chance to explore his options. "As much as people feel or say, 'Why did I leave the Wildcats?', I didn't technically leave," Cotton told the EasyDay podcast. "The Wildcats parted ways with me because I wasn't willing to give an answer back in March." Cotton had been open with the Wildcats about his desire to test his value on the open market after the 2024/25 season, which finished as the greatest yet of his already illustrious NBL career. The American had been linked with Japanese club Chiba Jets, coached by former Wildcats boss Trevor Gleeson, and played a handful of NBA games before arriving at the Wildcats. But Cotton claims the Wildcats were pushing him for an answer only days after he'd touched down in Puerto Rico for a brief off-season stint at Mets de Guaynabo. "At that point, I'm pretty sure the (NBL) grand final was still going on, Melbourne playing Illawarra," Cotton said. "I had my agent tell them, 'Look, honestly, giving y'all within the next two or three days after I'd gotten to Puerto Rico, that s***'s not enough time for me to make a decision. "Like not being no cocky or no arrogant s***, but I just had one of the greatest seasons in NBL history and I'm a free agent for the first time in forever. It couldn't have been a better time." It left Cotton feeling there was only one option, to leave the Wildcats, telling the club: "I want to test free agency. So if you guys feel like you want to move on, I understand, but that (two or thee days) is not enough time for me to make a decision." Wildcats owner Mark Arena has subsequently defended the Wildcats, telling NBL Now that the club did "everything we possibly could to sign (Cotton) with the time frame we had". But the Wildcats had eight other players hitting free agency, including key men Keanu Pinder and Dylan Windler, so felt they needed an answer on their talisman's future. "We didn't want to end up in a position where we were waiting and waiting and waiting (for an answer from Cotton) and we were at a point where other players perhaps started looking elsewhere," Arena said. "It's a massive decision, a horrible decision we had to make, which was wait longer and risk the whole squad and our success, or make the hard call and move on and build a roster with plenty of time to do that that can win a championship." Cotton insisted he remained close with the Wildcats playing roster and his final coach, John Rillie. "I'm happy there's not beef between me and JR, it's all love. We spoke after the decision with Adelaide was made as well. It's all good," Cotton said.
