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2023–24 Perth Wildcats season

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2023–24 Perth Wildcats season
Head coachAustralia John Rillie
CaptainAustralia Jesse Wagstaff
ArenaPerth Arena
NBL results
Record17–11 (60.7%)
Ladder2nd
Finals finishSemifinalist
(lost to JackJumpers 1–2)
Stats at NBL.com.au
Player records
PointsUnited States Cotton
23.1
ReboundsUnited States Doolittle
6.8
AssistsUnited States Cotton
4.3
All statistics correct as of 13 March 2024.

The 2023–24 Perth Wildcats season was the 43rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL).

On 16 May 2023, the Wildcats have picked up John Rillie’s third year team option.[1]

Roster

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

2023–24 Perth Wildcats roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 0 New Zealand Webster, Tai 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 29 – (1995-05-29)29 May 1995
G 1 New Zealand Russo-Nance, Dontae (DP) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 19 – (2005-01-20)20 January 2005
F 5 United States Doolittle, Kristian (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 27 – (1997-10-19)19 October 1997
F 8 United States Usher, Jordan (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 26 – (1998-02-21)21 February 1998
G 9 New Zealand Webster, Corey 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 36 – (1988-11-29)29 November 1988
G 10 Australia Henshall, Ben 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 20 – (2004-06-22)22 June 2004
G 11 United States Cotton, Bryce Injured (I) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 76 kg (168 lb) 32 – (1992-08-11)11 August 1992
C 12 New Zealand Andrew, Jack (DP) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 115 kg (254 lb) 23 – (2001-08-10)10 August 2001
F 13 New Zealand Harris, Hyrum 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 110 kg (243 lb) 28 – (1996-03-06)6 March 1996
G 17 Australia Harris, Michael (DP) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 25 – (1999-10-05)5 October 1999
C 20 France Sarr, Alex (NS) 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 19 – (2005-04-26)26 April 2005
G 22 Australia Zunic, Kyle 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 25 – (1999-05-04)4 May 1999
F 24 Australia Wagstaff, Jesse (C) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 38 – (1986-04-30)30 April 1986
F 25 Australia Pinder, Keanu 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 29 – (1995-05-28)28 May 1995
F 35 Australia Okwera, David 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 22 – (2002-07-31)31 July 2002
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Australia Keegan Crawford
  • Australia Gerard Martin
  • Australia Aaron Young
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Australia Josh Cavanagh
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (I) Import player
  • (TP) Training player
  • (SRP) Special restricted player
  • (NS) Next Star player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 17 February 2024

Depth chart

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Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
PG Tai Webster Kyle Zunic Dontae Russo-Nance
SG Bryce Cotton Corey Webster Ben Henshall
SF Jordan Usher Michael Harris David Okwera
PF Kristian Doolittle Hyrum Harris Jesse Wagstaff
C Keanu Pinder Alex Sarr Jack Andrew

Standings

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Ladder

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Pos 2023–24 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1 Melbourne United 28 20 8 71.43% 3–2 W1 11–3 9–5 2615 2454 106.56%
2 Perth Wildcats 28 17 11 60.71% 2–3 L2 10–4 7–7 2630 2563 102.61%
3 Tasmania JackJumpers 28 16 12 57.14% 4–1 W4 8–6 8–6 2564 2378 107.82%
4 Illawarra Hawks 28 14 14 50.00% 3–2 L1 8–6 6–8 2547 2518 101.15%
5 Sydney Kings 28 13 15 46.43% 2–3 W1 7–7 6–8 2672 2602 102.69%
6 New Zealand Breakers 28 13 15 46.43% 3–2 L1 8–6 5–9 2498 2480 100.73%
7 Brisbane Bullets 28 13 15 46.43% 2–3 L1 8–6 5–9 2458 2534 97.00%
8 Cairns Taipans 28 12 16 42.86% 1–4 W1 7–7 5–9 2506 2589 96.79%
9 Adelaide 36ers 28 12 16 42.86% 3–2 W1 9–5 3–11 2457 2563 95.86%
10 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 28 10 18 35.71% 1–4 L4 7–7 3–11 2425 2691 90.12%

Updated to match(es) played on 18 February 2024. Source: NBL.com.au

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

Ladder progression

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Leader and qualification to semifinals
Qualification to semifinals
Qualification to play-in games
Last place
2023–24 NBL season
Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920
Adelaide 36ers9101097888910101010101099999
Brisbane Bullets12676576667996545657
Cairns Taipans86343767776679767888
Illawarra Hawks10891091010101088885686444
Melbourne United31111111111111111111
New Zealand Breakers475610999899768978766
Perth Wildcats65888654353222222222
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix5975234553555781010101010
Sydney Kings23234222442434454575
Tasmania JackJumpers74425433224343333333
Updated to match(es) played on 18 February 2024. Source: NBL.com.au

Game log

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Pre-season

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Main article: 2023 NBL pre-season
2023 NBL Blitz game log
Total: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
September: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 17 September @ Cairns W 95–102 Bryce Cotton (31) Pinder, Sarr (8) three players (4) Gold Coast Convention Centre
n/a 		1–0
2 19 September Adelaide W 112–80 Michael Harris (18) Alexandre Sarr (8) five players (3) Gold Coast Convention
n/a 		2–0
3 21 September New Zealand W 93–89 Jordan Usher (26) Keanu Pinder (13) Ben Henshall (4) Gold Coast Convention Centre
n/a 		3–0

Regular season

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Main article: 2023–24 NBL regular season
2023–24 game log
Total: 17–11 (Home: 10–4; Road: 7–7)
September: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 29 September Tasmania W 101–95 Jordan Usher (35) Pinder, Sarr (5) Bryce Cotton (6) Perth Arena
12,361 		1–0
October: 1–5 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
2 1 October @ S.E. Melbourne L 110–99 Ben Henshall (24) three players (5) Bryce Cotton (10) John Cain Arena
6,641 		1–1
3 6 October Adelaide W 82–75 Bryce Cotton (19) Keanu Pinder (7) Bryce Cotton (5) Perth Arena
11,306 		2–1
4 13 October Melbourne L 81–88 Keanu Pinder (25) Alexandre Sarr (9) Corey Webster (5) Perth Arena
10,982 		2–2
5 15 October @ Sydney L 99–86 Bryce Cotton (22) Keanu Pinder (7) Tai Webster (5) Sydney SuperDome
10,546 		2–3
6 21 October @ Adelaide L 89–78 Keanu Pinder (17) Keanu Pinder (13) Keanu Pinder (5) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
8,140 		2–4
7 27 October Brisbane L 79–84 Keanu Pinder (22) Kristian Doolittle (11) Bryce Cotton (5) Perth Arena
10,481 		2–5
November: 5–0 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
8 4 November Adelaide W 99–88 Bryce Cotton (29) Kristian Doolittle (8) Bryce Cotton (5) Perth Arena
11,326 		3–5
9 6 November @ Melbourne W 95–102 (OT) Bryce Cotton (24) Jesse Wagstaff (8) Kristian Doolittle (5) John Cain Arena
10,175 		4–5
10 10 November New Zealand W 94–76 Bryce Cotton (37) Kristian Doolittle (11) Doolittle, H.Harris (4) Perth Arena
10,685 		5–5
11 16 November Cairns W 88–80 Bryce Cotton (25) Kristian Doolittle (8) Bryce Cotton (4) Perth Arena
9,976 		6–5
12 18 November @ Brisbane W 76–79 Bryce Cotton (25) Keanu Pinder (10) three players (3) Nissan Arena
4,869 		7–5
December: 4–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
13 1 December Sydney W 114–105 Bryce Cotton (41) Keanu Pinder (9) Bryce Cotton (7) Perth Arena
11,897 		8–5
14 8 December @ Illawarra L 100–82 Jordan Usher (17) Keanu Pinder (10) Bryce Cotton (7) Wollongong Entertainment Centre
2,921 		8–6
15 15 December Tasmania W 89–88 Bryce Cotton (28) Bryce Cotton (8) Cotton, Pinder (4) Perth Arena
12,600 		9–6
16 23 December @ Melbourne L 109–103 (OT) Bryce Cotton (36) Keanu Pinder (9) Doolittle, Pinder (4) John Cain Arena
10,175 		9–7
17 26 December @ Cairns W 102–105 Bryce Cotton (33) Kristian Doolittle (16) Pinder, T.Webster (4) Cairns Convention Centre
4,050 		10–7
19 28 December @ Adelaide W 82–100 Bryce Cotton (24) Doolittle, Pinder (5) Bryce Cotton (6) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
9,468 		11–7
January: 5–1 (Home: 2–1; Road: 3–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
19 7 January @ New Zealand W 102–108 Bryce Cotton (31) Hyrum Harris (8) Tai Webster (6) Spark Arena
6,280 		12–7
20 13 January S.E. Melbourne W 100–79 Bryce Cotton (34) four players (6) Tai Webster (4) Perth Arena
12,859 		13–7
21 19 January Brisbane W 118–86 Bryce Cotton (28) Hyrum Harris (11) Bryce Cotton (7) Perth Arena
12,836 		14–7
22 21 January @ Sydney W 98–104 Bryce Cotton (29) Kristian Doolittle (7) Usher, T.Webster (5) Sydney SuperDome
13,138 		15–7
23 25 January Illawarra L 77–95 Tai Webster (16) Kristian Doolittle (10) Bryce Cotton (3) Perth Arena
12,771 		15–8
24 27 January @ S.E. Melbourne W 91–103 Tai Webster (23) Keanu Pinder (11) Bryce Cotton (8) State Basketball Centre
3,422 		16–8
February: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
25 4 February New Zealand L 78–89 Keanu Pinder (21) Keanu Pinder (15) Bryce Cotton (6) Perth Arena
12,975 		16–9
26 10 February Cairns W 117–88 Bryce Cotton (26) Alexandre Sarr (12) Bryce Cotton (4) Perth Arena
12,895 		17–9
27 15 February @ Illawarra L 108–92 Bryce Cotton (20) Hyrum Harris (7) Tai Webster (5) Wollongong Entertainment Centre
4,486 		17–10
28 17 February @ Tasmania L 86–72 Alexandre Sarr (17) Kristian Doolittle (5) Henshall, Usher (3) Derwent Entertainment Centre
4,340 		17–11
2023–24 season schedule

Postseason

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Main article: 2024 NBL Finals
2024 finals game log
Total: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
Semifinals: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 8 March Tasmania W 89–81 Keanu Pinder (25) Cotton, Pinder (7) Bryce Cotton (5) Perth Arena
10,624 		1–0
2 11 March @ Tasmania L 102–94 Bryce Cotton (26) Kristian Doolittle (9) H.Harris, Usher (4) Derwent Entertainment Centre
4,340 		1–1
3 13 March Tasmania L 84–100 Bryce Cotton (21) Keanu Pinder (7) H.Harris, T.Webster (3) Perth Arena
7,467 		1–2
2024 finals schedule

Transactions

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Re-signed

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Player Date Signed Contract Ref.
Michael Harris 7 April 2023 2-year deal [2]
Tai Webster 21 April 2023 2-year deal (club option) [3]
Corey Webster 3 May 2023 2-year deal (club option) [4]
Jesse Wagstaff 2 June 2023 1-year deal [5]

Additions

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Player Date Signed Contract Former team Ref.
Keanu Pinder 1 April 2023 2-year deal Cairns Taipans [6]
David Okwera 5 April 2023 3-year deal Melbourne United [7]
Ben Henshall 17 April 2023 2-year deal Centre of Excellence [8]
Hyrum Harris 26 April 2023 2-year deal Adelaide 36ers [9]
Alex Sarr 9 May 2023 1-year deal (next star) YNG Dreamerz (Overtime Elite) [10]
Dontae Russo-Nance 27 May 2023 3-year deal Auckland Tuatara [11]
Jordan Usher 9 August 2023 1-year deal Beşiktaş [12]
Kristian Doolittle 26 September 2023 1-year deal Limoges CSP [13]

Subtractions

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Player Reason left Date Left New Team Ref.
Luke Travers Declined player option 30 March 2023 Melbourne United [14]
Mitch Norton Mutual release 19 April 2023 Brisbane Bullets [15]
Todd Blanchfield Mutual release 28 June 2023 Illawarra Hawks [16]
Majok Majok Free agent 7 August 2023 Tasmania JackJumpers [17]
Oliver Hayes-Brown Released 6 September 2023 Richmond (AFL) [18]

Awards

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Club awards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "John Rillie is Staying Put in Perth". Wildcats.com.au. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Perth Wildcats sign shooter Michael Harris for another two years after impressive first season in the NBL". TheWest.com.au. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Webster brothers Tai and Corey both re-sign with Wildcats". ESPN.com.au. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Perth Wildcats announce re-signing of guard Corey Webster for two more years". TheWest.com.au. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Wagstaff Re-Signs with the Wildcats for 15th Season". Wildcats.com.au. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Wildcats welcome Keanu Pinder home to Perth". Wildcats.com.au. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  7. ^ "David Okwera Returns to Perth to Join the Cats". Wildcats.com.au. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  8. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (17 April 2023). "Perth Wildcats sign exciting West Australian talent Ben Henshall to join locals Keanu Pinder and David Okwera". TheWest.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (26 April 2023). "Perth Wildcats sign New Zealand's Hyrum Harris and he is promising to be a physical force". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  10. ^ Wells, Jed (9 May 2023). "Perth Wildcats sign OTE prospect Alex Sarr as first ever Next Star". SportingNews.com. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Perth Wildcats Welcome Dontae Russo-Nance". Wildcats.com.au. 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023.
  12. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (9 August 2023). "Perth Wildcats sign American forward Jordan Usher as import for NBL season". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 9 August 2023.
  13. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (26 September 2023). "Perth Wildcats sign Kristian Doolittle for NBL season after being released by French club for clash with coach". TheWest.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Josh Giddey breaks major NBL move". SportingNews.com. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Bullets add experienced guard Mitch Norton". BrisbaneBullets.com.au. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Todd Blanchfield Returns to the Illawarra Hawks". Hawks.com.au. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  17. ^ "JackJumpers roster puzzle complete with NRP signing". JackJumpers.com.au. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  18. ^ Sutton, Ben (31 August 2023). "Richmond sign 208cm, 114kg basketballer Oliver Hayes-Brown as a Category B rookie". 7news.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Cotton joins Wildcats greats with sixth Gordon Ellis Medal". Wildcats.com.au. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
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