Sharpshooter keen to play with "legend"

With the re-signing of Elijah Pepper recently, the Perth Wildcats have got the majority of their core locked in for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season.

That includes import duo Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler, star big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., and other core pieces Jesse Wagstaff, Ben Henshall and Cameron Huefner.

One spot that remains unfilled and, according to Wildcats GM Danny Mills, is a ‘clear deficiency’, is the marquee point guard spot.

While some may assume that spot would be filled by an import guard, reports from CODE Sports suggest that the Wildcats are preparing to make an offer for five-time Olympian Patty Mills.

During a recent episode of NBL Now, Pepper explained how excited he would be to play alongside 2014 NBA champion Mills.

“Patty's a legend, and you can't help but think about that stuff [playing alongside him],” Pepper said on NBL Now.

“You hear different names, and you're like, how would I fit alongside them? How would we play together? What would that be like?”

If Mills did join the 10-time champions, he would join a core that, according to Pepper, is right there in the title hunt.

“The ultimate goal for us is always going to be a championship, especially when you're playing at Perth. That's the expectation,” he said.

“The fans and the club [set those standards], and I think our group has the ability to do so. I think that's what we should be expecting [from ourselves] for the next two years.

“It's one of those things when you have your main core of guys, like Windler, Doo [Doolittle] and Jo, who are guys who are staying around for multiple years.

“These guys are absolutely good enough to push us over the edge and get us there.

“Obviously, getting that point guard will help us a little bit more as well. But [regardless], I think we're right there.

“Everybody says they're right there, but I feel more so than other teams, we're actually right there.

“JLA is a winner, Doolittle’s a winner. Those guys just want to win, and that's all we're here to do: win basketball games.”

It’s because of this, and his trust in GM Danny Mills and coach John Rillie, that the 25-year-old decided to commit his future to the Wildcats.

“I felt like Perth made me a priority. It makes it a lot easier when you know you're trusted, and you feel important to a club,” Pepper said.

“That makes the decision a lot quicker, and I’m really excited to know where I’m going to be playing the next two years.

“There were definitely other clubs, such as Brisbane, Melbourne and Tasmania, who reached out, but it was one of those things where Perth was always going to win when it comes to relationships, just because that's where I've been the last two years.

“That's where it's been home for two years, and that's where I'm comfortable.

“Danny and JR [Rillie] were always reaching out and checking in [which I appreciated], so I’m glad the situation worked itself out.”