Brandon Knight touches down in Perth excited to join Wildcats

Perth Wildcats import Brandon Knight has touched down in Perth, excited to join his new teammates and take the court in front of the Red Army.

The NBA veteran arrived at Perth Airport on Wednesday, bringing him a step closer to his first Wildcats appearance after following the club’s opening games from the United States.

Speaking to awaiting media, Knight said he was grateful to be in Perth and looking forward to getting to work with the team.

“I’m excited. It’s been a long time coming,” Knight said.

“Always wanted to come here and, you know, opportunity presented itself. Right timing. So really just thankful, man. Thankful to be here.”

His arrival follows conversations with the Wildcats that began last season, now in Perth, his attention turns to connecting with his teammates and finding his place in the group.

Knight returns to a city he first visited two years ago for HoopsFest and Basketball Without Borders. While much of that trip was spent in the gym working with young players, attending games gave him a lasting impression of the atmosphere at RAC Arena.

With limited time to explore during that visit, Knight also hopes to see more of the city as he settles into life into

His excitement has grown while watching the Wildcats from afar, particularly during back-to-back wins over Adelaide and New Zealand.

Knight followed as much of the opening three games as possible, paying attention to the team’s energy and how he could contribute. Elijah Pepper’s game winner against the 36ers had him wishing he was already alongside the group.

“That was thrilling, man. I wanted to be there hugging him and celebrating with him,” Knight said.

“I can’t wait to be just a part of the atmosphere and part of the environment and get out there and fight with the guys.”

Knight's immediate focus is learning the team’s approach and identifying where he can add value. He recognises that joining a group which has completed its pre-season and begun its campaign will require adjustment, but is confident he can contribute with the right mindset.

Knight wants to support his teammates and build on what is already in place.

“I’m here to serve these guys. I’m here to serve the vision that’s already in place,” he said.

“There’s a goal to want to be a really successful team in this league and to compete for a championship.”

Making those around him better and their jobs easier will guide his approach as he settles in.

The Wildcats face South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena on Friday in their 10th annual Pink Game, supporting Breast Cancer Care WA.

A debut date remains to be determined, with medical assessments to complete and staff to assess his readiness. Even after roughly 30 hours of travel, Knight said he would have wanted to play "tonight" if Perth had a game.