Gaze: Cotton exactly what Boomers need

The greatest Australian player of all-time would love nothing more than seeing Bryce Cotton in the green and gold.

Andrew Gaze says Cotton looms as a perfect fit to line up in a Boomers jersey, as the country prepares for a World Cup campaign in 2027 and the Olympics in 2028.

This week, Cotton teased a potential call-up for the 3x3 men’s team at the Commonwealth Games, but Gaze believes he could be more suited to the five-on-five format.

“You can only have one naturalised player, but right now with need I think Cotton’s skillsets and the way he plays are more required than someone like Matisse (Thybulle),” Gaze told CODE Sports.

“Right now we need perimeter shooting and badly. Bryce has shown that he can run the ball, handle the point and play with the ball as much as he can off the ball.”

>> Cotton open to Australian debut

The superstar Adelaide 36er notched his sixth NBL MVP Award this week, closing in on Gaze’s record of seven.

He officially became an Australian citizen in 2025, making him eligible to represent the Australian national team.

“For me, he (Cotton) would be in my team,” Gaze added. “I’ve always thought that Bryce’s game and what he can bring to the team can be very beneficial.”

The Boomers are currently in the Qualifying phase for the next FIBA World Cup, which will take place in Qatar in August and September of 2027.

Earlier this week, Cotton said playing for Australia had significant appeal.

"Growing up, the Olympics was never a thought, but to have the honour of potentially representing a country that you're not from, it's amazing,” he said.

"To play against the world's best, there's no higher stage, so it does have a lot of enticement for me.

"We'll see how it goes but it's definitely an enticing thing."

Read the full story >> Why Boomers great Andrew Gaze believes Bryce Cotton is a must selection for Australia