Mitch Norton re-signs

The Perth Wildcats are excited to announce two-time championship-winning point guard Mitch Norton has re-signed with the club.

The new three-year deal will see Norton remain a Wildcat until at least the end of the 2023/24 NBL season.

The 28-year-old said he’s thrilled to be remaining in Perth.

“We genuinely love the city of Perth, I think our lifestyle here played a big factor in the decision to stay,” he said. 

“It’s always nice when the coaches and club wants you back, it means you’re doing something right! But there’s definitely unfinished business, and I’d love to see the core group of guys back together. The young guys will be better for the experience this year, and will use that feeling of coming up one short to fuel them through the off-season.

“Personally, my goal is to continue to improve. That’s always the goal, no matter what stage of your career you're at. I was more offensively aggressive towards the end of the season, and I think that’s something I can continue to do to compliment what Bryce does.”

In 2021, Norton elevated his game as he became the Wildcats full-time starting point guard.

He averaged 8.2 points per game, a career-high 3.6 assists per game and a career-high 3.5 rebounds per game, all while locking down some of the league’s most damaging players on the defensive end.

Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson said Norton is the type of player you can build a team around. 

“Norto was outstanding this year and has taken on that leadership role. What he did during the playoffs, to play injured and perform like he did, it typifies Wildcats Basketball,” he said.

“I think he was the best defensive player of the year, he held multiple marquee players to season-lows throughout the year. He’s inspirational with the way he plays and how he puts his body on the line for the name on the front of the jersey. That’s a guy we want to build a franchise around going forward.

“We want Norton here for the long term, and I’m very happy he’s going to be here for the next three years.”

Mitch Norton arrived at the Wildcats in 2018, and went on to become a championship player in his first two seasons at the club.

He became vice-caption of the side in 2021, and clocked up 100 Wildcats games in the recent NBL finals

Despite his age, Norton has already played 268 NBL games over a career spanning a decade.

He joins recently crowned league MVP Bryce Cotton, as well as Luke Travers and Todd Blanchfield as players signed to the Perth Wildcats 2021/22 roster.