Cotton's 'big swipe' adds to Wildcats tension

The tension between five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton and his former team Perth continues to grow, as their first match-up nears.

Plenty has been said since his high-profile off-season shift from the Wildcats to 36ers, including a post-game press conference last round that raised eyebrows.

"I've been extremely happy since the day I came here [Adelaide]," Cotton said after dropping 53 points in a win over Cairns.

"Not just with the teammates and the coaches but everybody in the Adelaide organisation is amazing.

"They've welcomed me and my family with open arms and uh it feels good, you know, to be in a place where you really feel welcome and and wanted and it makes you want to give it everything you got um for everybody.

"It's been fun and uh obviously everything's a little bit more enjoyable when you're winning games."

This was followed by Cotton's Instagram story post on Monday evening, saying 'no regrets'.

Then on Tuesday's NBL Now, NBL legend Mark Worthington, who played against Cotton during the 2016-17 season while in Cairns, weighed in on the feud.

"It [Cotton's comments] is not a little swipe, it is a big swipe," NBL champion Worthington said. "There's a couple of reasons that he has no regrets.

"He's got no regrets because he's getting paid well by the Adelaide 36ers, and he's got no regrets because his team is currently standing above the Perth Wildcats and playing a better brand of basketball.

"So, in many ways, there is no regrets there at the moment and it's, it's all part of the theatre, right? Their first game is early in November and in Adelaide and that's going to be must-watch.

"Bryce seemingly has a long memory, and I'm sure those, those games between Adelaide and Perth this season are gonna be fantastic to watch."

Cotton's 36ers travel to Melbourne on Sunday to face United in a top-of-the-table clash at John Cain Arena. The Indigenous Round fixture tips off at 2.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and Channel 10.