Mission accepted: Cotton vows to 'bring the wins'

Bryce Cotton has vowed to 'bring the wins' to Adelaide, as he begins the next chapter of his storied career.

The five-time NBL MVP has signed a three-year deal with the 36ers, marking one of the biggest Free Agency coups in league history.

Currently playing in Puerto Rico with Mets de Guaynabo, Cotton says coach Mike Wells, who he first worked with at the Utah Jazz in 2015, was a major influence in his decision.

"I think it just kind of goes to show, the longer you play this game, the smaller the basketball world gets. Sometimes you kind of reconnect with people you met from the past," he said.

"I think this was a pretty cool aligning of the stars again. I always respected him as a coach and as a person, and being able to see how he handled Adelaide from afar, even last season, I think he helped do a tremendous job of bringing in a winning culture and a winning mentality back to the club."

A three-time NBL champion with Perth in 2017, 2019 and 2020, Cotton knows what it takes to win — something that has eluded a 36ers team that hasn’t posted a winning season since 2017/18.

"It’s exciting that now I get to be a part of that as well and try to help continue to push that narrative forward, just kind of turning the culture around, bringing winning back to this city. So it’s a great challenge," he said.

"I think I’m just excited to, again, be a part of something new, but picking up where they left off. I think they left a great mark last season showing the potential that they have and the heights that they can get to.

"I’m excited to be a part of that team and hopefully the fans and everybody out there in Adelaide embraces me being a part of their family now."

Cotton joins local marquees Dejan Vasiljevic and Isaac Humphries on the 36ers’ roster, alongside new additions Flynn Cameron (Melbourne), Isaac White (Brisbane), Michael Harris (Perth) and Matt Kenyon (South East Melbourne).

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