Agent Cotton Key to Thomas Signing

Thursday, September 29, 2022

It seems Perth star Bryce Cotton put his agent hat on in the off-season, with the three-time NBL champion playing a key role in recruiting import big TaShawn Thomas to the Wildcats.

Perth star Bryce Cotton put his agent hat on in the off-season, with the three-time NBL champion playing a key role in recruiting import big TaShawn Thomas to the Wildcats.

Thomas has arrived in the NBL after a year playing for Le Mans in France. Before that he spent four seasons playing in Israel for Hapoel Holon and Haopel Jerusalem.

He says discussions with Cotton around the Wildcats group and the wider city of Perth were key in helping him decide to take his talents to the west.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The story so far...<br><br>Checking out the resume of new <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a>' import, TaShawn Thomas ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> <a href="https://t.co/MzTHEdYcRo">pic.twitter.com/MzTHEdYcRo</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1551854850249347072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Finding Perth was kind of a process because I’m at a point where I’m always asking around before I get to a team,” Thomas said on SEN.

“My agent, he also works for Bryce. He told me Bryce loves it in Perth and I had someone I was able to reach out to before I signed, and him talking to me helped me out a lot.

“He definitely gave me a good rundown, and he did also say the team, for the most part, is trying to be a close-knit team. [Since] I knew that coming in I tried to implement myself and be myself around everybody.”

The fact that Cotton’s name is even in the debate of who the best import in NBL history is is a testament to his impact on the league. Former teammate Damian Martin has labelled him as the greatest Wildcat in history.

According to Thomas, Cotton’s notoriety extends further than Australian shores.

“The hype is all there,” Thomas said. “Coming in I heard his name a lot and a lot of people know who he is back home.

“Before getting here all I knew was Bryce Cotton. All I heard about was Bryce Cotton. To get here and realise he handles all of that well – he’s not cocky and he’s a good guy to be around – he’s one of the guys I’ve been hanging out with the most in the team.

“It’s good to be around a guy who holds such high standards. When you’re around him you have to move the same way."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Back-to-back dunks for <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> BIG man TaShawn Thomas, the second of which featured an insane behind-the-back dime from Bryce ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> Blitz live on <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> freebies <a href="https://t.co/tP2O0wffYL">pic.twitter.com/tP2O0wffYL</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1572550589518843905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite missing much of pre-season due to an ankle injury, Thomas is expected to be ready and raring to go for Perth’s opening clash against Brisbane.

His first test in the NBL will come in the form of Aron Baynes. While Baynes himself is still getting back to full fitness after the horrific back injury he suffered at the Tokyo Olympics.

“My ankle’s fine. I’m back in workouts, I played that last game [at the Blitz] – they kind of had me on a minutes restriction but it went well. I feel back to normal,” Thomas said.

“When you get the chance to play against a guy (Baynes) who everybody knows or who has been in the NBA and been successful, you always get excited to line up and see what makes him who he is.

“I’m excited to play him, we’re looking forward to the challenge and we’re going to see if we can get that W on Sunday.

“I feel like I can do well here, and I feel like I’m excited to get out there and play.”