Wildcats legend Martin chats with new import Usher

It’s fitting that new Perth Wildcats import Jordan Usher’s first radio interview on Australian soil was with the legendary Damian Martin.

Usher has already made it known that he wants to not only win a championship with the Wildcats, but also the Defensive Player Of The Year.

Former Wildcats captain Martin has six of each, including five rings as skipper, and has the NBL's DPOY award named after him.

"He's on the wall everywhere, I've seen enough of him already," Usher joked during a wide-ranging chat on SENWA's The Run Home with Hase and Marto.

Listen to the full chat with Hase and Marto here

The 25-year-old described himself as a "defensive mad man" who can change the game with his energy, something that was music to NBL great Martin's ears.

"You are speaking my language," Martin said.

Usher will begin training camp with his new teammates on Monday and said he was looking forward to guarding three-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton at practice and playing alongside him during the 2023-24 season.

"I'm going to give him hell in practice so that in the game it's even easier," Usher said.

"In a game of basketball, you win if you score more points than the other team so as long as you've got a guy like Bryce Cotton that can fill it up, I'm going to make sure the other guy can't score so that's how you win the game."

Usher also revealed former Wildcat Luke Travers and Australian NBA exports Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels had a role in him getting to the NBL.

"Two years ago I was living in a house with Luke Travers, Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey," he explained.

"(Agent) Daniel Molovan represents them and he's been my guy too and I just trust the guys like (Wildcats general manager of basketball) Danny Mills and (coach) John Rillie and it just feels right.

"I think it's a league that I can excel in and it just feels right."

Usher and the Wildcats are set to take the court in preparation for NBL24 when they take on the NBL1 West Select side later this month, get your tickets to the pair of games being played in Rockingham and Warwick now.