NBL25 season review - Kristian Doolittle

The imposing forward enjoyed a career-best NBL campaign for the Wildcats, averaging 15.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

He was seventh in the competition for average rebounds - including fifth in defensive rebounds with 5.9 per game - and 17th in the NBL for assists.

The 27-year-old from Oklahoma finished the season strongly after returning from a groin injury in mid-January.

He posted three of his nine double-doubles in the post-season including a career-best 37 points to go with 10 rebounds in game three of the playoff series against Melbourne United.

His strong campaign was rewarded with a three-year contract extension, tying him to the club until at least the end of the 2027-28 season.

Doolittle earned plenty of praise for his performances and becoming a real leader among the playing group.

“It was great to see Kristian become a real leader in our group this season, he’s the ultimate professional and has an infectious desire for winning,” Wildcats Head Coach John Rillie said.

“Kristian is such a consistent contributor at both ends of the floor and highlighted his importance to the team with an elite playoff series and back end of the season once he returned from injury.”

Doolittle won the Andrew Vlahov Medal as the Wildcats’ Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season to go with his first Eric Watterson Medal as voted on by the players.

He also finished runner-up to Bryce Cotton in the Gordon Ellis Medal, giving to the Most Valuable Player for the Wildcats in another nod to his impressive season.