NBL champ calls for Wildcats' 'leader' to stand up

Perth may have returned to the winner's circle on Sunday against Brisbane, but questions still remain around the Wildcats after a patchy period, which has included fourth quarter fades against Adelaide and Sydney.

One of the reasons for that, according to one NBL champion, is the team's lack of leadership.

During Monday's episode of NBL Overtime, Pete Hooley played that talk down, labelling American forward Kristian Doolittle as their leader.

"I know Jesse Wagstaff is the captain of this team, but Kristian Doolittle is the leader of this team," Hooley said on NBL Overtime.

"We've seen in the last couple of seasons and in the Playoffs, the true competitor that he is. Sometimes you don't get to choose whether you want to be a leader or not but I believe he does want to be that.

"He's shown the maturity over last couple of seasons when the Perth Wildcats are winning basketball games and playing well, it's normally on the back of Kristian Doolittle having a really big, consistent performance on both ends.

"He's so important to their success and if he continues to lock in and be that consistent beast we've seen, Perth will be good."

Fellow panellist Damon Lowery pushed back though, saying he doesn't currently believe there currently is a leader on John Rillie's side.

"He's the leader? Just because he the best player don't mean he the leader," Lowery said.

"What is he doing to show me, what is his leadership attribute?

"Now I you guys are disrespecting leadership. You think every team just automatically has a leader. Kristian Doolittle is an experienced and great player but that doesn't necessarily make you a leader.

"I'm looking at a guy like Dylan Windler, he leads by example. JLA (Jo Lual-Acuil) leads by example. He could be a leader but we're just so quick to just make a guy a leader.

"What if they don't have one?"

Kristian Dootlittle is a $338,500 forward in the NBL’s official fantasy game, Beat The Coach, presented by Choice Hotels. Take on Damon Lowery and Beat the Coach in any round of the NBL26 Season and you’ll receive an entry into the end-of-season $10,000 prize draw, including 1 x $5,000 cash and 1 x $5,000 Choice Hotels™ gift vouchers. Sign up to play now here.

Hooley argued the point, while admitting that Doolittle can still improve in that area.

"He's the ultimate competitor and we've seen some of the body language and frustrations [recently], even ripping the jersey," he said.

"I've got no issues with that, but you've just got to understand that the rest of the team is following your lead every single time on the floor because you're one of the best two way players in the league.

"That's what other players, the young guys on the team, everybody else will look to follow. But he's had some moments of being visibly frustrated with not getting the ball or not getting a call.

"That can really seep into all the young guys, because they're looking up to him.

"Being a veteran, that played in a lot of places and won everywhere he goes, teammates know that and are going to look up to you regardless of whether you've want to be or not, because of the runs on the board."

Perth, who are 10-8, next host South East Melbourne on Thursday from 9.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.

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