BY THE NUMBERS | WILDCATS RED HOT START TO NBL27

Scoring streaks, career highs and club milestones have all contributed to the Perth Wildcats’ best start to a season since 2020–21.

With four wins from five games to open NBL27, we take a closer look at the numbers behind Perth’s early form.

Elijah Pepper | Four straight games with 25 points

> Elijah Pepper has scored 25 points in each of Perth’s past four games, with his scoring streak matching the Wildcats’ run of wins.

> He has 119 points through five games. Last season, it took him 17 games to reach that total.

Dylan Windler | Career highs and a scoring surge

> Dylan Windler established new career highs in points and made three-pointers against the New Zealand Breakers on Saturday, scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter as Perth pulled away to win 100–84.

> He has scored 90 points through five games, almost double the 47 he recorded through his first five appearances as a Wildcat.

Kristian Doolittle | Setting the standard

> Kristian Doolittle equalled his career-high nine assists against New Zealand, matching a tally he last reached in February 2025.

> That performance contributed to his most productive five-game assist stretch in the NBL, surpassing his previous best of 28 assists, recorded between February and March 2025.

Brandon Knight | 451 NBA games of experience

> Brandon Knight became the most experienced NBA player to wear a Wildcats jersey when he made his debut against the Breakers, bringing 451 career NBA appearances to Perth’s backcourt.

> His first NBL game also produced an unusual comparison: his Wildcats teammates span a wider age range than those he played alongside across his NBA appearances.

> In the NBA, his oldest teammate was Kenyon Martin at 38 years and two days, while his youngest was Giannis Antetokounmpo at 18 years and 10 months.

> At Perth, those marks belong to Jesse Wagstaff at 40 years and five months and Marley Sam at 17 years and 10 months.

Marley Sam | Second youngest Wildcat ever

> Marley Sam debuted at 17 years and 299 days, becoming the second youngest player to represent the Wildcats.

> Only Wani Swaka Lo Buluk was younger, making his debut at 17 years and 182 days. Sam is also the youngest player to take the court for Perth since March 2019.

Jesse Wagstaff | A career best at any age

> Jesse Wagstaff recorded a career-high six assists against the Breakers, surpassing his previous best of five, last recorded in March 2016.

> The captain also finished the win at +24, meaning Perth outscored New Zealand by 24 points while he was on the floor. It was his highest plus-minus in exactly four years.

> Now aged 40 and playing his 18th season, Wagstaff is the oldest player to represent the Wildcats, surpassing James Crawford’s previous mark of 39 years and 300 days.