Two-time NBL champion returns home to Wildcats

The Perth Wildcats are excited to announce the return of two-time NBL champion Sunday Dech on a three-year deal.

The 31-year-old WA-raised talent returns to the Wildcats after stints at Illawarra Hawks and more recently Adelaide 36ers where he spent the past five seasons.

Dech has signed for three years which includes a mutual option for the third.

The hard-working guard started his NBL career in Perth as a Development Player in 2013-14 and ’14-15 and won a title in his first season.

He returned to the Wildcats in 2018-19 as an injury-replacement player where he won his second championship.

Dech, who represented South Sudan at last year’s Paris Olympic Games, comes with a wealth of experience, having played 180 NBL games, averaging 7.3 points and three rebounds and making a name for himself as a defensive stopper.

Dech said he was grateful to come back to the Wildcats to begin the next chapter of his NBL career “where it all started”.

“When you grow up and it's your childhood team and then you end up playing for them, it's always something you dream of, coming in and finishing your career at the team where it all started,” Dech said.

“By no means am I close to finishing my career, but it is something that I'm excited and grateful that it's happened earlier, rather than later in my career.”

Dech said he had grown a lot as a player and person since his early days at the Wildcats and hopes to share that wealth of experience with his new teammates.

“I had a really good foundation at the Cats with a lot of good veterans and a lot of people that I looked up to,” Dech recalled.

“Over my time in Adelaide and Illawarra, I’ve been able to gain a wealth of knowledge there as well.

“I’m looking forward to coming back and trying to use that to push our team forward as much as I can and I’m excited to be back home in the red and black.”

Wildcats General Manager of Basketball Operations Danny Mills felt Dech would be a great fit for the team.

“We’re excited to welcome Sunday Dech back to Perth — he’s a homegrown player who won two championships early in his career at the club, and a respected leader throughout the league,” Mills said.

“He adds great size and depth on the wing, brings versatility on the defensive end, and his skill set offensively fits well with the core group of players we have returning.”

Wildcats Head Coach John Rillie hailed Dech’s leadership, professionalism and defensive traits.

“We’re delighted to sign Sunday who we think will add so much to our roster from both a playing and leadership perspective,” Rillie said.

“He’s a high-level defensive player and versatile guard who’s got elite leadership traits and is the ultimate professional on and off the court.”

It comes after the re-signings of star imports Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler on multi-year deals, while evergreen veteran Wagstaff is also locked in for a 17th NBL season.

Prolific guard Elijah Pepper and Development Player Tom Gerovich are also back for NBL26.

The Wildcats opened the free-agency period last week with the signing of young forward Cameron Huefner as a DP.

* Contract is subject to NBL approval