'Proud' Wagstaff reflects ahead of 500-game milestone

The long-time Wildcats captain and six-time NBL champion is set to reach 500 games against Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday if he plays in both of the team’s Round 19 double-header fixtures, starting with South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena on Friday night.

It will be yet another remarkable achievement from the Wildcats’ games-record holder and Canberra product, who arrived in Perth with his then girlfriend Steph 16 years ago, with the pair now married with three children.

Wagstaff said it had been a “privilege” to be a one-club player at the NBL’s most successful franchise, which had become a huge part of the whole family’s lives.

“I certainly don’t want to discredit the other achievements, but I think 500 is a pretty nice round number,” Wagstaff said.

Milestone man. ❤️

Hear from our skipper about what it means to become the first Perth Wildcats player to reach 500 games this weekend!

Watch the full presser: https://t.co/8ApYhrApxW pic.twitter.com/7t70Y2k7fH

— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) January 29, 2025

“I’m certainly proud of it. As a family, me and my now wife, who came too, to Perth 16 years ago, and I'm not gonna say with nothing, but, you know, just our bags, and 16 years later we've got three kids and we're married.

“This club has been a huge part of our lives and it's a privilege to play 498 but hopefully 500 games for the club.”

The latest achievement comes just a few months after Wagstaff broke club great Ricky Grace's long-standing games record of 482 earlier this season.

The fifth-placed Wildcats have just three games left in the regular season, with finals spots extremely tight as just two wins separate second and fifth place.

“There are a lot of teams competing for the six last spots and it is still anyone’s game. There’s spots to be had. We’ve got three games, will put our best foot forward and see where we lie. It’s certainly (about) details. It comes down to certain plays,” Wagstaff said.