Wildcats Usher in new import for NBL24

The Perth Wildcats are delighted to announce the signing of highlight machine Jordan Usher for the NBL24 season.

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia the 6’7 small forward has been described as a utility wing with a dynamic three level scoring ability and Defensive Player Of The Year-level defensive presence.

Graduating from Georgia Tech in 2022, the 25-year-old spent his first pro season last year representing Istanbul with the Besiktas J.K in the Turkish Basketball Super League.

While there, he averaged 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting at 40 per cent from three, providing countless highlight plays with his pure hustle and explosive dunking.

Usher said he was excited to play for the Wildcats in front of the Red Army.

“Just being able to play for a super awesome fan base, I'm real emotional when I play and I can't wait to turn up the fans,” he said.

“I feel like I'm going to be perfect for this team, I'm an energetic player and I'm excited to come and play for a championship with this team.”

“It's a big club that has a lot of championships and I'm trying to bring another one.”

Usher has high hopes for the upcoming season, declaring he’s coming for the NBL DPOY award named after Wildcats great Damian Martin who won it a record six times.

“I'm an elite athlete, I get out in transition, I'm a top tier defender and I'm trying to come get that Defensive Player Of the Year award over there,” he said.

“I'm a team guy, I'm a good leader, I really make a big impact on the court.”

Most recently, Usher played alongside new Perth Wildcat teammate Keanu Pinder with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Summer League.

He averaged 10 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals at the Las Vegas competition, catching many eyes with his energy, effort and defensive pressure.

Usher said he’s looking forward to reuniting with Pinder, as well as head coach John Rillie who recruited him in high school.

“I got to get pretty close with Keanu at Summer League, and I've known coach Rillie since I really started playing basketball when I was 15 or 16,” he said.

“He actually recruited me when he coached at Boise.”

Rillie said Usher would bring excitement to the squad and become a favourite among the Red Army.

“Jordan plays with a passion at both ends of the floor that the Red Army will be drawn to from day one,” he said.

“He plays with a good level of physicality and his size will create some mismatches that we will be able to exploit.”

Perth Wildcats general manager of basketball operations Danny Mills said Usher ticked all the boxes they were looking for in a player to compliment the rest of the roster.

“We’re very excited to be able to bring a player of Jordan’s talent and ability to Perth this season. He brings a level of toughness, athleticism and competitiveness that will compliment our current roster,” Mills said.

“His versatility on both ends to play and defend multiple positions is exactly what we were looking for when evaluating potential players to bring in.

“His ability as a first year pro last year to go overseas and prove himself and play at a consistently high level in a tough Turkish League, projects well for how his game will translate to our program and the NBL this season.”

Usher and the Perth 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.