Key Wildcats levelling up in 2021

The Perth Wildcats have won five of their last six games, and a big reason for their success is the significant improvement from some of its star players in key statistical areas.

Bryce Cotton is a two-time NBL MVP and three-time NBL scoring champion, but this season, his numbers are reaching even greater heights.

In 2019/20, he averaged 22.9 points per game, and so far this year that figure up to 24.5 points per game, despite taking the same number of shot attempts.

In his 121 Wildcats games he averages 22.0 points per game.

If he keeps it up, 2021 will be his highest scoring season in his NBL career.

You could be excused for assuming the increase in scoring would mean a decrease in assists for Cotton. But, you’d be wrong.

His assist numbers are up to an impressive 6.3 per game – up from 4.0 in 2019/20, which was his previous best year passing the ball.

Cotton’s backcourt starting mate Mitch Norton has also stepped it up in the assist department.

Norton is averaging 4.5 dimes per game, up from 2.6 last season, and his career average of 2.5 per game.

As a team Perth are averaging 20.0 dimes per game, which Is the first time they’ve averaged above 20 since the 2009/10 season.

Meanwhile, Wildcats recruit Todd Blanchfield is delivering for his new team, averaging his best scoring season at 14.9 points per game – up from his career average of 9.9.

Captain Jesse Wagstaff is also shooting the lights out, hitting the three-ball at 55.0 per cent per game – up dramatically from his 2019/20 average of 36.6 per cent and his career average of 35.3 per cent.

While we’re only 11 games into the 36-game 2020/21 season, these numbers are encouraging for fans of the back-to-back reigning NBL Champions.