# 2023–24 Perth Wildcats season

The 2023–24 Perth Wildcats season was the 43rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL).
On 16 May 2023, the Wildcats have picked up John Rillie’s third year team option.

## Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

### Depth chart

| Pos. | Starting 5 | Bench 1 | Bench 2 |
| PG | Tai Webster | Kyle Zunic | Dontae Russo-Nance |
| SG | Bryce Cotton | Corey Webster | Ben Henshall |
| SF | Jordan Usher | Michael Harris | David Okwera |
| PF | Kristian Doolittle | Hyrum Harris | Jesse Wagstaff |
| C | Keanu Pinder | Alex Sarr | Jack Andrew |

## Standings
### Ladder

| Pos | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte | 2023–24 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | Melbourne United | 28 | 20 | 8 | 71.43% | 3–2 | W1 | 11–3 | 9–5 | 2615 | 2454 | 106.56% |
| 2 | Perth Wildcats | 28 | 17 | 11 | 60.71% | 2–3 | L2 | 10–4 | 7–7 | 2630 | 2563 | 102.61% |
| 3 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 28 | 16 | 12 | 57.14% | 4–1 | W4 | 8–6 | 8–6 | 2564 | 2378 | 107.82% |
| 4 | Illawarra Hawks | 28 | 14 | 14 | 50.00% | 3–2 | L1 | 8–6 | 6–8 | 2547 | 2518 | 101.15% |
| 5 | Sydney Kings | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 2–3 | W1 | 7–7 | 6–8 | 2672 | 2602 | 102.69% |
| 6 | New Zealand Breakers | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 3–2 | L1 | 8–6 | 5–9 | 2498 | 2480 | 100.73% |
| 7 | Brisbane Bullets | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 2–3 | L1 | 8–6 | 5–9 | 2458 | 2534 | 97.00% |
| 8 | Cairns Taipans | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 1–4 | W1 | 7–7 | 5–9 | 2506 | 2589 | 96.79% |
| 9 | Adelaide 36ers | 28 | 12 | 16 | 42.86% | 3–2 | W1 | 9–5 | 3–11 | 2457 | 2563 | 95.86% |
| 10 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 28 | 10 | 18 | 35.71% | 1–4 | L4 | 7–7 | 3–11 | 2425 | 2691 | 90.12% |
Updated to match(es) played on 18 February 2024. Source: NBL.com.au
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

### Ladder progression

* Leader and qualification to semifinals
* Qualification to semifinals
* Qualification to play-in games
* Last place
2023–24 NBL season :
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Adelaide 36ers | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Brisbane Bullets | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Cairns Taipans | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Melbourne United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 4 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Perth Wildcats | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 5 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Sydney Kings | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Tasmania JackJumpers | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |

## Game log
### Pre-season

2023 NBL Blitz game log Total: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0) :
September: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
17 September
@ Cairns
W 95–102
Bryce Cotton (31)
Pinder, Sarr (8)
three players (4)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
1–0
2
19 September
Adelaide
W 112–80
Michael Harris (18)
Alexandre Sarr (8)
five players (3)
Gold Coast Convention n/a
2–0
3
21 September
New Zealand
W 93–89
Jordan Usher (26)
Keanu Pinder (13)
Ben Henshall (4)
Gold Coast Convention Centre n/a
3–0 :

### Regular season

2023–24 game log Total: 17–11 (Home: 10–4; Road: 7–7) :
September: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
29 September
Tasmania
W 101–95
Jordan Usher (35)
Pinder, Sarr (5)
Bryce Cotton (6)
Perth Arena 12,361
1–0 :
October: 1–5 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
1 October
@ S.E. Melbourne
L 110–99
Ben Henshall (24)
three players (5)
Bryce Cotton (10)
John Cain Arena 6,641
1–1
3
6 October
Adelaide
W 82–75
Bryce Cotton (19)
Keanu Pinder (7)
Bryce Cotton (5)
Perth Arena 11,306
2–1
4
13 October
Melbourne
L 81–88
Keanu Pinder (25)
Alexandre Sarr (9)
Corey Webster (5)
Perth Arena 10,982
2–2
5
15 October
@ Sydney
L 99–86
Bryce Cotton (22)
Keanu Pinder (7)
Tai Webster (5)
Sydney SuperDome 10,546
2–3
6
21 October
@ Adelaide
L 89–78
Keanu Pinder (17)
Keanu Pinder (13)
Keanu Pinder (5)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 8,140
2–4
7
27 October
Brisbane
L 79–84
Keanu Pinder (22)
Kristian Doolittle (11)
Bryce Cotton (5)
Perth Arena 10,481
2–5 :
November: 5–0 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
8
4 November
Adelaide
W 99–88
Bryce Cotton (29)
Kristian Doolittle (8)
Bryce Cotton (5)
Perth Arena 11,326
3–5
9
6 November
@ Melbourne
W 95–102 (OT)
Bryce Cotton (24)
Jesse Wagstaff (8)
Kristian Doolittle (5)
John Cain Arena 10,175
4–5
10
10 November
New Zealand
W 94–76
Bryce Cotton (37)
Kristian Doolittle (11)
Doolittle, H.Harris (4)
Perth Arena 10,685
5–5
11
16 November
Cairns
W 88–80
Bryce Cotton (25)
Kristian Doolittle (8)
Bryce Cotton (4)
Perth Arena 9,976
6–5
12
18 November
@ Brisbane
W 76–79
Bryce Cotton (25)
Keanu Pinder (10)
three players (3)
Nissan Arena 4,869
7–5 :
December: 4–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13
1 December
Sydney
W 114–105
Bryce Cotton (41)
Keanu Pinder (9)
Bryce Cotton (7)
Perth Arena 11,897
8–5
14
8 December
@ Illawarra
L 100–82
Jordan Usher (17)
Keanu Pinder (10)
Bryce Cotton (7)
Wollongong Entertainment Centre 2,921
8–6
15
15 December
Tasmania
W 89–88
Bryce Cotton (28)
Bryce Cotton (8)
Cotton, Pinder (4)
Perth Arena 12,600
9–6
16
23 December
@ Melbourne
L 109–103 (OT)
Bryce Cotton (36)
Keanu Pinder (9)
Doolittle, Pinder (4)
John Cain Arena 10,175
9–7
17
26 December
@ Cairns
W 102–105
Bryce Cotton (33)
Kristian Doolittle (16)
Pinder, T.Webster (4)
Cairns Convention Centre 4,050
10–7
19
28 December
@ Adelaide
W 82–100
Bryce Cotton (24)
Doolittle, Pinder (5)
Bryce Cotton (6)
Adelaide Entertainment Centre 9,468
11–7 :
January: 5–1 (Home: 2–1; Road: 3–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
19
7 January
@ New Zealand
W 102–108
Bryce Cotton (31)
Hyrum Harris (8)
Tai Webster (6)
Spark Arena 6,280
12–7
20
13 January
S.E. Melbourne
W 100–79
Bryce Cotton (34)
four players (6)
Tai Webster (4)
Perth Arena 12,859
13–7
21
19 January
Brisbane
W 118–86
Bryce Cotton (28)
Hyrum Harris (11)
Bryce Cotton (7)
Perth Arena 12,836
14–7
22
21 January
@ Sydney
W 98–104
Bryce Cotton (29)
Kristian Doolittle (7)
Usher, T.Webster (5)
Sydney SuperDome 13,138
15–7
23
25 January
Illawarra
L 77–95
Tai Webster (16)
Kristian Doolittle (10)
Bryce Cotton (3)
Perth Arena 12,771
15–8
24
27 January
@ S.E. Melbourne
W 91–103
Tai Webster (23)
Keanu Pinder (11)
Bryce Cotton (8)
State Basketball Centre 3,422
16–8 :
February: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
25
4 February
New Zealand
L 78–89
Keanu Pinder (21)
Keanu Pinder (15)
Bryce Cotton (6)
Perth Arena 12,975
16–9
26
10 February
Cairns
W 117–88
Bryce Cotton (26)
Alexandre Sarr (12)
Bryce Cotton (4)
Perth Arena 12,895
17–9
27
15 February
@ Illawarra
L 108–92
Bryce Cotton (20)
Hyrum Harris (7)
Tai Webster (5)
Wollongong Entertainment Centre 4,486
17–10
28
17 February
@ Tasmania
L 86–72
Alexandre Sarr (17)
Kristian Doolittle (5)
Henshall, Usher (3)
Derwent Entertainment Centre 4,340
17–11 :
2023–24 season schedule :

### Postseason

2024 finals game log Total: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1) :
Semifinals: 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
8 March
Tasmania
W 89–81
Keanu Pinder (25)
Cotton, Pinder (7)
Bryce Cotton (5)
Perth Arena 10,624
1–0
2
11 March
@ Tasmania
L 102–94
Bryce Cotton (26)
Kristian Doolittle (9)
H.Harris, Usher (4)
Derwent Entertainment Centre 4,340
1–1
3
13 March
Tasmania
L 84–100
Bryce Cotton (21)
Keanu Pinder (7)
H.Harris, T.Webster (3)
Perth Arena 7,467
1–2 :
2024 finals schedule :

## Transactions
### Re-signed

| Player | Date Signed | Contract |
| Michael Harris | 7 April 2023 | 2-year deal |
| Tai Webster | 21 April 2023 | 2-year deal (club option) |
| Corey Webster | 3 May 2023 | 2-year deal (club option) |
| Jesse Wagstaff | 2 June 2023 | 1-year deal |

### Additions

| Player | Date Signed | Contract | Former team |
| Keanu Pinder | 1 April 2023 | 2-year deal | Cairns Taipans |
| David Okwera | 5 April 2023 | 3-year deal | Melbourne United |
| Ben Henshall | 17 April 2023 | 2-year deal | Centre of Excellence |
| Hyrum Harris | 26 April 2023 | 2-year deal | Adelaide 36ers |
| Alex Sarr | 9 May 2023 | 1-year deal (next star) | YNG Dreamerz (Overtime Elite) |
| Dontae Russo-Nance | 27 May 2023 | 3-year deal | Auckland Tuatara |
| Jordan Usher | 9 August 2023 | 1-year deal | Beşiktaş |
| Kristian Doolittle | 26 September 2023 | 1-year deal | Limoges CSP |

### Subtractions

| Player | Reason left | Date Left | New Team |
| Luke Travers | Declined player option | 30 March 2023 | Melbourne United |
| Mitch Norton | Mutual release | 19 April 2023 | Brisbane Bullets |
| Todd Blanchfield | Mutual release | 28 June 2023 | Illawarra Hawks |
| Majok Majok | Free agent | 7 August 2023 | Tasmania JackJumpers |
| Oliver Hayes-Brown | Released | 6 September 2023 | Richmond (AFL) |

## Awards
### Club awards

* Club MVP: Bryce Cotton
* Coaches’ Award: Kyle Zunic
* Most Improved Player: Hyrum Harris
* Best Defensive Player: Kristian Doolittle
* Players’ Player: Bryce Cotton