Stint on sidelines sparks Cotton's golden run

The Perth Wildcats superstar has become the first player since Andrew Gaze in 1991 to score 40-plus points in four consecutive games.

And Cotton revealed his recent stint on the sidelines with a rib injury, and the gratitude for the game that came with it, helped spark his prolific scoring run.

The four-time NBL MVP didn't play for a month due to the injury, but it didn't take long for him to reach new heights upon return with a club record-breaking 59 points against New Zealand earlier in the month followed up by three more 40-plus point hauls.

"I keep going back to the injury, being out for a month or so. Having time to really dive into my own mind, I'm a chronic overthinker but I think this time it did me some justice," Cotton said on NBL Now. 

"It allowed me to approach the game a little bit differently, having more gratitude every time I step out on the floor. If anything's changed I would just say that, my gratitude of being on the floor has gone through the roof."

The 32-year-old said despite his current form, he never wanted to become complacent.

"What I'm doing right now..this is another level I've taken it to," Cotton said. 

"To be playing ball this long in life and still finding new levels to take it too is great. But I never want to be complacent."