History of Perth Wildcats in Timeline

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Perth Wildcats

The Perth Wildcats are a professional basketball team based in Perth, Western Australia. They compete in the National Basketball League (NBL) and their home games are played at RAC Arena, nicknamed "The Jungle".

7 hours ago : Perth Wildcats Face Cairns Taipans; Captain Wagstaff Injured Before the Game

The Perth Wildcats are scheduled to play against the Cairns Taipans. However, captain Jesse Wagstaff is doubtful due to a throat injury. Jaron Rillie addressed the media prior to the clash.

1951: St. George Illawarra Dragons finals appearances

In 1951, the St. George Illawarra Dragons began a run of 23 consecutive finals appearances.

1967: Boston Bruins playoff appearances

In 1967/68, the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League made 29 consecutive playoff appearances.

1972: Edmonton Eskimos qualify for the playoffs

In 1972, the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League qualified for the playoffs for 34 consecutive years.

1973: End of St. George Illawarra Dragons finals appearances

In 1973, the St. George Illawarra Dragons ended a run of 23 consecutive finals appearances.

1979: Formation of the National Basketball League

In 1979, the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia was formed.

1982: Westate Wildcats Established

In 1982, after three years of lobbying to the NBL, the Westate Wildcats were established as a national basketball team in Perth and played out of the 800-seat Perry Lakes Basketball Stadium.

1982: Hawthorn Football Club finals appearances

In 1982, the Hawthorn Football Club began a run of 13 consecutive finals appearances.

1983: Gordon Ellis Takes Over as Coach

In 1983, Gordon Ellis took over as coach of the Westate Wildcats, as the team finished 13th with a 6–16 record.

1983: NBL split into Eastern and Western divisions

In 1983, the NBL was split into Eastern and Western divisions during the regular season.

1984: NBL game changed to 48-minutes

In 1984, the NBL adopted a 48-minute game format.

1984: NBL split into Eastern and Western divisions

In 1984, the NBL was split into Eastern and Western divisions during the regular season.

1984: Westate Wildcats Become Perth Wildcats

In 1984, the Westate Wildcats became the Perth Wildcats as interest in basketball steadily grew throughout the community.

1984: Team Renamed Perth Wildcats

In 1984, the team was renamed the Perth Wildcats, but success did not ensue under coach Lynn Massey as the team finished on the bottom of the ladder (16th) with only three wins.

1985: Jay Brehmer Becomes Coach

Jay Brehmer became the fourth coach of the team for the 1985 season and imports Dan Clausen and Roland Brooks were added.

1986: Bob Williams Buys the Wildcats

In 1986, Perth businessman Bob Williams bought the Perth Wildcats.

1986: Brooks Suffers Season-Ending Injury

In 1986, Roland Brooks suffered a season-ending injury just 10 games into the season, and the Wildcats finished the season in 12th place with an 8–18 record.

1986: Finished in Third-Last Position

In 1986, the Perth Wildcats finished in third-last position.

1986: First losing season since 1986

In 2003-04 season, Mike Ellis guided the team to their first losing season since 1986, finishing in seventh spot with a 15–18 record and a quarter-final defeat.

1987: Law's 37 points set the highest score

During the pre-season, Todd Blanchfield and Mitch Norton suffered major knee injuries. Vic Law scored 37 points, setting the highest score ever by a player in their Perth Wildcats debut. It surpassed James Crawford's previous record of 33 points in 1987.

1987: James Crawford scores 57 for Wildcats

In 1987, James Crawford scored 57 points in a game for the Wildcats, setting a record for the club at the time.

1987: Start of Perth Wildcats' finals streak

In 1987, the Perth Wildcats began a run of 35 straight NBL finals appearances.

1987: Wildcats lose Grand Final series

In 1987, the Perth Wildcats experienced a losing grand final series, marking a significant moment in the team's journey.

1987: Made Finals for First Time

In 1987, the Perth Wildcats made the finals for the first time, finishing the regular season in fourth position with a 19–7 record.

1987: Team Moves to the Superdrome

In 1987, the Perth Wildcats moved from Perry Lakes Stadium to the Superdrome.

1987: Start of Post-Season Streak

In 1987, the Wildcats began a 35-year streak of making the post-season.

1988: Semi-Finals Loss

In 1988, the Perth Wildcats lost to the North Melbourne Giants in the Semi-finals.

1989: Cal Bruton Retires

Following the 1989 season, Cal Bruton retired as a player.

1989: Wildcats lost to North Melbourne by 55 points

In 1989, The Wildcats lost to North Melbourne by 55 points which was their largest margin loss.

1989: Semi-Finals Loss

In 1989, the Perth Wildcats lost to the North Melbourne Giants in the Semi-finals.

1990: Cal Bruton Becomes General Manager and Coach

In 1990, Cal Bruton became the Wildcats' general manager and later the coach, replacing Alan Black who was fired after two games. Ricky Grace joined the team.

1990: Kerry Stokes Becomes Co-Owner

In 1990, Kerry Stokes became co-owner of the franchise and the Perth Wildcats moved to the Perth Entertainment Centre.

1990: Murray Arnold Replaces Cal Bruton

In 1990, after leading the Wildcats to a championship, Cal Bruton was replaced as coach by Murray Arnold, a former assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls.

1990: NBL Championship Win

In 1990, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

1990: Wildcats win back-to-back titles

In 1990, the Perth Wildcats won back-to-back titles, marking a period of great success for the team behind players like Ricky Grace and James Crawford.

1990: Wildcats secured the title interstate

In 1990, the Wildcats secured the title interstate. This was only the fourth grand final road win for any NBL team since 2009.

1990: Wildcats went back-to-back for the first time since 1990/1991

In 1990, the Wildcats went back-to-back for the first time since 1990/1991, while Gleeson became the first coach to guide the Wildcats to back-to-back championships.

1991: Wildcats back-to-back

In 1990/1991, the Wildcats won back-to-back championships for the first time since 1990/1991.

1991: Andrew Gaze consecutive 40-point games

In 1991, Andrew Gaze became the first NBL player since to have three consecutive 40-point games.

1991: NBL Championship Win

In 1991, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

1991: Wildcats went back-to-back for the first time since 1990/1991

In 1991, the Wildcats went back-to-back for the first time since 1990/1991, while Gleeson became the first coach to guide the Wildcats to back-to-back championships.

1991: Team's first back-to-back championships since 1991

In 2016, the Wildcats were attempting to secure the team's first back-to-back championships since 1991.

1992: Quarter-Final Loss

After a down year in 1992, the Perth Wildcats had a quarter-final loss.

1993: Personnel Changes

In 1993, Mike Ellis retired, Dr Adrian Hurley was appointed as the new head coach, and Scott Fisher joined the team.

1994: Recruitment of Anthony Stewart

Following a disappointing 1994 season, the Wildcats recruited Anthony Stewart from the Hobart Tassie Devils.

1994: End of Hawthorn Football Club finals appearances

In 1994, the Hawthorn Football Club ended a run of 13 consecutive finals appearances.

1995: Wildcats Win Triple Crown

In 1995, coach Hurley guided the Perth Wildcats to the 'Triple Crown' - winning the pre-season competition, finishing minor premiers and then winning the NBL Championship.

1995: NBL Championship Win

In 1995, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

1995: End of Boston Bruins playoff appearances

In 1995/96, the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League 29 consecutive playoff appearances came to an end.

1999: Geared Up for Big Season

Following four straight injury-plagued seasons that all resulted in early finals exists, the Wildcats geared up for a big season in 1999–2000.

1999: Wildcats win fourth title

In 1999/2000 season, the Wildcats won their fourth title.

2000: Signed Marcus Timmons

In 2000, the Perth Wildcats signed import Marcus Timmons for their run to the finals.

2000: NBL Championship Win

In 2000, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

2000: Championship drought begins for the Wildcats

In 2000/01, a large championship drought began for the Wildcats, however, the team continued to make the finals each season.

2000: Cotton was named league MVP after Paul Rogers

In 2018, Bryce Cotton was named league MVP, becoming just the third Wildcat to win the award after Paul Rogers in 2000 and Kevin Lisch in 2012.

2000: Wildcats win fourth title

In the 1999/2000 season, the Wildcats won their fourth title behind coach Alan Black and veterans Vlahov, Grace and Fisher.

January 2001: Wildcats nine-game win streak

The Wildcats had a nine-game win streak during the 2020-2021 season, with the victory over the Sydney Kings on April 8. It marked the first nine-game win streak in a season for the Wildcats since January 2001.

2002: Moved Back to the Superdrome

Following the closure of the Perth Entertainment Centre, the Perth Wildcats moved back to the Superdrome for the 2002 season.

2002: Played in Grand Final Series

In the 2002–03 season, the Perth Wildcats played in their seventh Grand Final series behind Ricky Grace and coach Alan Black.

2003: Grand Final series since 2003

After claiming the minor premiership and beating the Gold Coast Blaze in the Semi-finals, the Wildcats came up against the Wollongong Hawks in their first Grand Final series since 2003.

2003: Lost the Championship Series

In 2003, the Perth Wildcats were outclassed by the Sydney Kings in the championship series.

April 2004: Luc Longley relinquished his majority share

In April 2004, co-owner Luc Longley relinquished his majority share of the Wildcats, leaving Andrew Vlahov as the sole owner of the franchise.

2005: Wildcats lost five consecutive games

After starting the season with three straight wins, the Wildcats lost their next five. It marked the first time since 2005 that the Wildcats recorded five consecutive losses.

2005: West Australian businessman Jack Bendat became the chairman and majority shareholder

In 2005, West Australian businessman Jack Bendat became the chairman and majority shareholder of the franchise. Although no longer the majority shareholder, Andrew Vlahov remained in control of the team as managing director.

2005: End of Edmonton Eskimos playoff streak

In 2005, the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League 34 consecutive years of qualifying for the playoffs came to an end.

2005: Wildcats worst start to a season since 2005-06

The Wildcats began the season with a 2-5 record, marking the club's worst start to a season since 2005–06.

2006: Wildcats celebrated their 25th anniversary

In the 2006-07 season, the Wildcats celebrated their 25th anniversary, recording 23 wins.

2007: Bendat assumed full control

In 2007, West Australian businessman Jack Bendat assumed full control of the Perth Wildcats, after becoming the chairman and majority shareholder of the franchise in 2005.

2007: Wildcats fell short in the finals

In 2007, the Wildcats fell short in the finals during their 25th anniversary season.

2008: Wildcats fell short in the finals

In 2008, the Wildcats fell short in the finals, leading to Connor Henry replacing Scott Fisher for the 2008–09 season.

2008: Wildcats face potential folding

In 2008-09 season, the Wildcats faced potential folding unless they raised a million dollars in sponsorship.

2008: Wildcats continue finals streak during championship drought

In 2008/09, the Wildcats still made the finals each season during a large championship drought.

2009: Wildcats' win in Melbourne

As of 2009, the Wildcats' win in Melbourne was only the fourth grand final road win for any NBL team. The grand final win in Melbourne happened in 2018.

2009: Wildcats almost fold and reform the league

Following the 2008–09 season, the Wildcats came within weeks of folding unless they raised a million dollars in sponsorship. Collaborating with other clubs, the Wildcats helped reform the league.

2009: Transformation of the Franchise

In 2009, after being on the brink of bankruptcy, owner Jack Bendat and managing director Nick Marvin transformed the Perth Wildcats franchise, focusing on being family-friendly and engaging with children in Western Australia by increasing school visits.

2009: Wildcats won their fifth NBL Championship

In 2009-10 season, after Games 1 and 2 proved to be comfortable victories for each home team, the Wildcats found themselves down by as many as 11 points in the second quarter of Game 3, before Lisch exploded offensively to finish with 29 points in lifting the team to a record fifth NBL Championship with a 96–72 win. Lisch was subsequently named MVP of the series.

2009: Scoring rule change for NBL

In 2009-10, the NBL reverted to 40-minute games.

2010: Increase in School Visits

In 2010, the Perth Wildcats increased school visits to 200.

2010: NBL Championship Win

In 2010, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

2010: Season crippled by serious injuries

The 2010–11 season was crippled by serious injuries to Jesse Wagstaff, Matthew Knight and Shawn Redhage.

January 2011: Shawn Redhage was injured

In January 2011, co-captain Shawn Redhage was injured. The six-time club MVP lunged for a contested ball in a way that punched the head of his femur through his pelvis, breaking the bone and dislocating the joint.

2011: Wildcats jostle over top spot

In the 2011-12 season saw the Wildcats jostle over top spot for the majority of the season with the New Zealand Breakers. The two teams went on to meet in the Grand Final, where the Breakers defeated the Wildcats in three games.

2012: Extended Road Trips Due to Hopman Cup

Between 2012, the team was forced on extended road trips for much of December due to Perth's annual hosting of the Hopman Cup at Perth Arena in early January.

2012: Move to Perth Arena

In 2012, the Perth Wildcats moved into Perth Arena and have consistently enjoyed large home crowds since.

2012: Wildcats play at Perth High Performance Centre

In 2012, the Wildcats played a game at Perth High Performance Centre for the first time since 2012, due to the unavailability of Perth Arena.

2012: Cotton was named league MVP after Kevin Lisch

In 2018, Bryce Cotton was named league MVP, becoming just the third Wildcat to win the award after Paul Rogers in 2000 and Kevin Lisch in 2012.

2012: The Wildcats had a new home venue

In the 2012–13 season, the Wildcats had a new home venue for the 2012–13 season, moving into the 13,000-seat Perth Arena.

February 2013: Wildcats announce 30th Anniversary All-Star Team

On 4 February 2013, the Wildcats announced their 30th Anniversary All-Star Team, celebrating the team's history and achievements.

2013: Wildcats lost against Breakers in Grand Final series

In 2013 the Wildcats lost 2–0 to the New Zealand Breakers in the Grand Final series.

2013: Wildcats win sixth championship

In 2013/14, the Wildcats won their sixth championship with coach Trevor Gleeson and imports Jermaine Beal and James Ennis.

2013: Departure of players

In the 2013 off-season, Rob Beveridge, Kevin Lisch and Cameron Tovey departed, with Trevor Gleeson, James Ennis, and Jermaine Beal replacing them.

2014: Paul Woolpert served under Gleeson

During the 2014–15 season, Paul Woolpert served as an assistant coach under Trevor Gleeson.

2014: NBL Championship Win

In 2014, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

2014: Title-winning campaign in 2014

In 2014, the Wildcats had a title-winning campaign.

January 2015: Record Crowd at Perth Arena

On 16 January 2015, a record crowd of 13,559 watched the Adelaide 36ers defeat the Wildcats 106–102 at Perth Arena.

2015: Wildcats earn a Semi-final defeat

In 2014–15 season, The Wildcats earned a Semi-final defeat.

2015: Wildcats win seventh championship

In 2015/16, the Wildcats won their seventh championship, marking Trevor Gleeson as the first Wildcats coach to win multiple championships.

2015: Wildcats were relatively injury-free

In 2015–16 season, the Wildcats were relatively injury-free.

2015: Three key players from the 2015–16 championship team moving on

In the 2016 off-season saw a lot of change in personnel, with three key players from the 2015–16 championship team moving on—Nate Jawai, Tom Jervis and Jermaine Beal.

2016: NBL Championship Win

In 2016, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

2016: Wildcats defeated the New Zealand Breakers in Grand Final

In 2016, the Wildcats defeated the New Zealand Breakers in three games led by captain and Grand Final MVP Damian Martin.

2016: Wildcats win back-to-back championships

In 2016/17, the Wildcats won back-to-back championships for the first time since 1990/1991.

2016: Change in personnel

In the 2016 off-season, there was a lot of change in personnel, with three key players from the 2015–16 championship team moving on—Nate Jawai, Tom Jervis and Jermaine Beal. To replace them, coach Trevor Gleeson brought in Angus Brandt, Jameel McKay and Jaron Johnson.

January 2017: Franchise Breaks 10,000-Member Barrier

In January 2017, the Wildcats became the first NBL franchise to break the 10,000-member barrier.

March 2017: Capacity Crowd Matches Highest Attendance Record

On 5 March 2017, a capacity crowd of 13,611 attended Game 3 of the 2017 Grand Final series, matching the Wildcats' highest-attendance record.

2017: Wildcats reacquired the services of Grand Final MVP Bryce Cotton

In 2017 off season, the Wildcats reacquired the services of Grand Final MVP Bryce Cotton for the 2017–18 season, but lost two-time Club MVP Casey Prather to Melbourne United.

2017: Nick Marvin Departs the Club

In 2017, Nick Marvin departed the Perth Wildcats club.

2017: NBL Championship Win

In 2017, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

January 2018: Wildcats vs Melbourne United Match

On 12 January 2018, a capacity crowd of 13,611 attended the Wildcats vs Melbourne United match, marking the seventh time topping 13,000 at Perth Arena in 2017–18.

2018: Wani Swaka Lo Buluk spent the season as a development player

During the 2018–19 season, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk was a development player for the Wildcats.

2018: Martin and Wagstaff achieve milestone

In 2018/19, Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff became the only players in NBL history to win five championships at one club.

2018: Wildcats secure Bryce Cotton to a three-year deal

In the 2018 off-season, the Perth Wildcats secured Bryce Cotton to a three-year deal and acquired Nick Kay and Mitch Norton. They lost Lucas Walker, Jarrod Kenny, and Dexter Kernich-Drew but welcomed back Tom Jervis. Terrico White was signed, and Rhys Vague was elevated to the full-time roster. Two pre-season games were played in the United States against NBA teams Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets, resulting in a 130–72 loss to the Jazz. The Wildcats started the season strong with a 10–1 record despite injuries, but later fell to 12–9. They recovered, finishing as minor premiers with an 18–10 record, defeated the Bullets in the semi-finals, and won their ninth NBL championship against Melbourne United, with Terrico White named Grand Final MVP.

2019: Community Engagement Obligation

As of 2019, the Perth Wildcats players had a 350-hour community engagement obligation, 200 hours above what the collective bargaining agreement requires.

2019: Extended Road Trips Due to Hopman Cup

Between 2019, the team was forced on extended road trips for much of December due to Perth's annual hosting of the Hopman Cup at Perth Arena in early January.

2019: Trevor Gleeson re-signed on a three-year deal

In 2019, Trevor Gleeson was re-signed on a three-year deal. Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff were also re-signed, along with six others from the championship-winning roster, including Terrico White. Wagstaff became vice captain, replacing Greg Hire, and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk was elevated to the full-time squad. Dario Hunt and Majok Majok were signed to replace Angus Brandt and Tom Jervis. Paul Woolpert and Jacob Chance replaced Matthew Nielsen and Adam Forde as assistant coaches.

2019: NBL Championship Win

In 2019, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

2019: Wildcats defeated the Cairns Taipans 2-1

In 2019, the Wildcats defeated the Cairns Taipans 2–1 in the semi-finals to advance to the NBL Grand Final. They ultimately won their 10th NBL championship after the Kings withdrew from the final two games due to health concerns. Bryce Cotton was named Grand Final MVP.

2019: Martin and Wagstaff achieve milestone

In 2019/20, Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff joined C. J. Bruton and David Stiff as the NBL's only six-time champions and the only players to achieve that at one club.

2019: Martin suffered a left heel injury

In the final game of 2019, Damian Martin suffered a left heel injury.

January 2020: Dario Hunt was released

In January 2020, after losing back-to-back games, Trevor Gleeson and the Wildcats released Dario Hunt and replaced him with Miles Plumlee.

December 2020: Preseason games commenced

In December 2020, preseason games commenced. The Wildcats were forced into quarantine and subsequently had to sit out Round 1 of the regular season after playing the Bullets in Brisbane.

2020: NBL decided to reduce a roster spot

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 the NBL decided to reduce a roster spot and an import position for all teams, and also introduce pay cuts on player contracts for the 2020–21 season.

2020: NBL Championship Win

In 2020, the Perth Wildcats won an NBL championship.

January 2021: Wildcats season opener

On 24 January 2021, the Wildcats' season opener saw them defeat the South East Melbourne Phoenix 88–86. It was in Round 2.

December 2021: New Crowd Record

On 19 December 2021, a new official capacity crowd record of 13,615 attended the Wildcats vs Tasmania JackJumpers match.

2021: Jack Bendat Sells the Club

In 2021, Jack Bendat sold the Perth Wildcats club.

2021: End of Perth Wildcats' finals streak

In 2021, the Perth Wildcats' run of 35 straight NBL finals appearances came to an end.

2021: End of Post-Season Streak

In 2021, the Wildcats' 35-year streak of making the post-season ended.

2021: Maccabi Tel Aviv post-season appearance

In 2021/22, Israeli professional basketball club Maccabi Tel Aviv made their 41st post-season appearance, holding the world record of 40 straight post-season appearances.

2021: Sports Entertainment Group took over as owner of the Wildcats

In the 2021 off-season, Sports Entertainment Group took over from Jack Bendat as owner of the Wildcats, and Trevor Gleeson departed for the NBA, with Scott Morrison taking over as head coach.

February 2022: Wildcats announce 40th Anniversary Team

In February 2022, the Wildcats announced their 40th Anniversary Team, recognizing key players and contributors over the team's history.

2022: John Rillie hired as head coach

Following Scott Morrison's departure, in 2022, the Wildcats hired former NBL player John Rillie as head coach.

2022: Tradition Continued with United Cup

In 2022, the tradition of extended road trips in December continued with the United Cup's introduction.

January 2023: Wildcats played Adelaide 36ers in first open-air game

On 14 January 2023, the Wildcats played the Adelaide 36ers in the first ever open-air game at RAC Arena, winning 112–97.

March 2023: Wildcats introduce Club Hall of Fame

In March 2023, the Wildcats introduced a Club Hall of Fame to recognize past players, coaches, and support staff. Inductees included Paul Rogers, Eric Watterson, and former owner Bob Williams.

February 2024: Criteria for jersey retirement

As of February 2024, a player must have played 200 games for the club and won two championships to be considered for jersey retirement.

February 2024: Wildcats Hall of Fame inductees

In February 2024, former owner Kerry Stokes, championship-winning head coach Adrian Hurley, and long-time game-night producer Raquel Muia were inducted into the Wildcats Hall of Fame.

July 2024: Sports Entertainment Group agrees to sell majority stake in Wildcats

In July 2024, Sports Entertainment Group agreed to sell 90% of their 95% shareholder ownership of the Wildcats to MT Arena Capital Investment, valuing the team at an estimated $40 million.

August 2024: Mark Arena becomes majority owner of the Wildcats

On 14 August 2024, WA businessman Mark Arena officially became the majority owner of the Wildcats after purchasing 52.5 per cent of the club for $21 million from Sports Entertainment Group.

2024: Arena Unavailable Between December and January

As of the 2024 season, the arena is unavailable for Wildcats games between the middle of December and the middle of January.

2024: End of the 2024-25 season

As of the end of the 2024–25 season, the Perth Wildcats had another season completed.

2024: Wildcats roster changes and undefeated pre-season

In 2024, the Wildcats experienced changes in their roster, with Jordan Usher, Corey Webster, Alex Sarr and Kyle Zunic departing. Michael Harris was upgraded, Elijah Pepper was acquired, and Izan Almansa replaced Sarr. Dylan Windler joined, and the Wildcats had an undefeated pre-season.

February 2025: Wildcats Hall of Fame inductees

In February 2025, former owner Jack Bendat and four-time NBL champion and former vice-captain Greg Hire were inducted into the Wildcats Hall of Fame.

2025: Bryce Cotton departs and rebrand for Wildcats

In 2025, five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton departed the Wildcats, signing with the Adelaide 36ers. The club also underwent a rebrand with a new logo, uniform color, and font.

2026: Future payment agreement for Wildcats ownership

In 2026, as part of the ownership agreement, Mark Arena is scheduled to provide another payment of $15 million to receive an extra 37.5 per cent of the Perth Wildcats.

2028: Potential full acquisition of Wildcats

In 2028, Mark Arena has the option to buy the entire Perth Wildcats club, completing the full acquisition.