Farewell Perth Wildcats: NBL icon Bryce Cotton locks in surprise return with Adelaide 36ers

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.