By Joanna Guelas
NBL legend Bryce Cotton will leave the Perth Wildcats after nine seasons but is yet to confirm his next move.
The five-time league Most Valuable Player knocked back a contract offer from Perth that reportedly would have made him the highest-paid player in NBL history, announcing his exit on Tuesday.
The American guard has been linked with a move to Japan’s Chiba Jets, coached by former Wildcats boss Trevor Gleeson.
Cotton has indicated he would not play for another NBL club.
“Perth will always be home, but it’s time to say goodbye and see what else God has planned for me and my family,” Cotton said on Instagram.
“I came at the back end of the season my first year only expecting to be here six weeks.
“It turned into accomplishing things that no other player has achieved in their first nine seasons in the history of the league.
“Despite that, I had my slumps along the way on the court but you guys never turned your back on me and always showed genuine support.
“I can never thank you enough for that.”
Cotton arrived halfway through the 2016-17 season and guided the Wildcats to the NBL championship, pulling off a grand final MVP performance.
Averaging 23.1 points across 258 games, the 32-year-old has won a record seven team MVP awards and is a three-time NBL champion.
His haul of five league MVP titles is second only to Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze (seven), the duo the only players to win the competition’s highest individual honour more than three times.
Cotton had made strides to realise his dream of representing Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but gave up after a drawn-out citizenship saga.
AAP
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