Finals Breakout Performers

It’s no secret that the Perth Wildcats had their backs to the wall in the 2021 NBL Finals, with NBL MVP Bryce Cotton ruled out and starting point guard Mitch Norton battling through injury.

However, through adversity comes opportunity, and these players took their chances on the big stage.

Luke Travers

The teenager BROKE OUT when the Wildcats were fighting for survival in Game Two of their semi-final series against Illawarra.

He filled the starting positon left by Cotton, and finished with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double - and when Norton left the game, his defence on Tyler Harvey was decisive.

Two days later he backed it up, filling the stat sheet wth seven points, six rebounds and four assists, including the game-sealing play.

It was later discovered that he tore his calf early in Game Three, making this play even more impressive.

The injury forced him out of Grand Final One and Two, but on limited minuets in Game Three, we saw a fit Travers could have life a whole lot more difficult for United.

Kevin White

With guards Cotton, Norton, Steindl and Travers all wounded, the Kevin White grew both as a leader, and a sneaky scorer.

The 34-year-old averaged 7.5 points in the 2021 post-season – significantly above his career average.

His three-point shooting kept the Wildcats alive on multiple occasions as he went 12 from 28 over the six games.

Todd Blanchfield

Blanchfield became the Wildcats prime scorer during the 2021 Finals, and despite the extra attention, he was able to deliver some career-high figures.

He increased his regular season average from 14.7 to 18.3 points per game, while 18.3 is almost double his previous best effort in a post-season.

The 29-year-old also pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game, up from 3.7 in the regular season.

Corey Shervill

Widely unknown before joing the Wildcats as a development player at the beginning of the season, this WA young gun became an NBL Grand Final starter in 2021.

Corey Shervill showed he belongs with five points and seven points in Grand Final Games Two and Three.