Here's why the Australian Boomers need Bryce Cotton
Bryce Cotton finally secured his Australian citizenship in 2025, yet hopes of him donning a Boomers jersey may have faded to the point of no return.
Credit: Dan Cowley Photography
The saga of Bryce Cotton’s Australian citizenship came to an end in September 2025, when his swearing-in ceremony was finally announced. The NBL veteran had initially applied in 2019, with a view to potentially don the Boomers uniform one day, but such hopes were gradually fading over time. Naturally the conversation of Cotton on the Boomers resurfaced after these developments, and it’s clear that the 33-year-old is proud of his adopted homeland.
“Australia truly means the world to me,” Cotton reportedly said. “I have felt Aussie all along, but now it feels official. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi.”
But after the passage of time, it seems that any desire to represent Australia on the court may have also dwindled. When asked about the prospects of him putting on the green and gold, Cotton told CODE Sports:
“Not really – for me it is [the] thrill of just being a citizen and then from an NBL standpoint the opportunity to play as a local.”
“And what that means for me individually and what it means for any team that I play for and obviously playing for the 36ers.
“That is what excites me a lot, but as far as the Boomers stuff that doesn’t cross my mind. I think people want that [me to play for the Boomers] more than I do.”
It’s understandable that the citizenship process may have left a sour taste in Cotton’s mouth, and after missed opportunities to play at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, Aussie hoops may have missed the boat. But if we put the last six years of waiting to the side, Cotton is still very much in his prime, and would be a major asset to the Boomers.
The 33 year old has amassed one of the most impressive resumes in NBL history to date. With five MVPs under his belt, as well as three championships and two Grand Final MVP awards, Cotton has nothing left to prove. The Perth Wildcats legend was coming off one of his best seasons in 2024-25, at least from a numbers point of view, and hasn’t showed any sign of slowing down this year. Now donning an Adelaide 36ers jersey, Cotton is still the league’s best player in the eyes of many onlookers, and his team sits perched atop the ladder on a 14-3 record.
Cotton is currently averaging 26.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. Only once has the veteran averaged more points (28.1 last season), but the assists figure is a career-high and reflects his growth as a floor general. Cotton has completely transformed a 36ers team that limped to a 13-16 record and lost their play-in game last season. And despite being well into his thirties, the shifty guard is averaging a career-high 2.2 steals per game, proving that he can attack passing lanes and make a meaningful defensive contribution in spite of his 6’0 frame.
When it comes to the Boomers, there is already a considerable talent pool to draw from, especially at the guard positions. Josh Giddey is a nightly triple-double threat for the Chicago Bulls, while Dyson Daniels has become a defensive force in Atlanta. Others like Tyrese Proctor, Danté Exum, Matisse Thybulle and Josh Green are also active in the world’s premier basketball competition. But Cotton brings something to the table that none of the aforementioned names have really shown as professionals - volume scoring in isolation.
Dating as far back as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Patty Mills has been Australia’s primary source of isolation scoring. The five-time Olympian has consistently been among the top scorers at major international tournaments, and was an integral part of Australia’s bronze medal success at the Tokyo 2020 games. But at age 37, Mills is no longer on an active professional roster, and retirement may be around the corner. Retirement speculation has been rife ever since Mills was named general manager of the University of Hawaii’s men’s basketball program, hinting at a new life after playing.
Not to say that Mills can be replaced, but Cotton would give the Boomers a similar type of player at the point guard position. At age 33 he is arguably putting up career-best numbers, and has maintained incredible efficiency despite his high volume of shot attempts. Cotton is shooting 45.3% from the field in the current NBL season, but what’s more impressive is his 41.4% clip from downtown. The swashbuckling guard is averaging a career-high 8.8 three point attempts per game, yet this volume hasn’t dented his efficiency one bit.
The numbers paint a picture, but the film only adds to Cotton’s growing legend as a player. The veteran routinely takes on difficult shot attempts, including off-dribble looks, and is often undeterred by having a defender in his face. Even when he spots up for an off-dribble jumper, Cotton often shows ingenuity by juking defenders and creating space out of nothing. His incredible speed around the perimeter is reminiscent of Mills, and this light-footedness allows him to navigate taller defenders.
Cotton’s scoring brilliance was on full display when he erupted for 53 points against Cairns. The 36ers talisman scored 21 points from pull up jumpers alone, while adding numerous buckets from drives and spot up shots. Amazingly, this wasn’t even a career-high, as Cotton previously scored 59 points last season in a game against New Zealand.
Consider this: the last player to score 59 in an NBL game was Shane Heal in 1994.
There’s no doubt that Boomers fans would welcome Cotton in the green and gold jersey. He is a three-level scorer who can play both with the ball and without it, offering a blend of fearlessness and shooting accuracy that nobody else in Aussie hoops can really match, especially in the potential post-Mills era. Chris Goulding has been selected for Boomers rosters in the past with similar coaching intentions, as the team would always benefit from instant offence off the bench. But Cotton is a more polished ball-handler than Goulding, with a style of play that Boomers fans have become accustomed to, after watching Mills tear up opposing defences for years.
As to whether or not Cotton has any interest in suiting up for Australia, that’s the million dollar question here. If the 33 year old can be convinced to represent his adopted homeland, putting the last six years of citizenship anguish behind him, it will be to the benefit of the Boomers. Australia’s talent pool already includes playmaking guards like Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Taran Armstrong, but elite volume shooters are hard to come by. The Boomers are in need of off-ball scoring, and in Cotton they get a seasoned veteran who can step up as a primary ball-handler in a pinch.
With the next FIBA World Championships and Olympics still quite far away, in 2027 and 2028 respectively, there’s plenty of time yet to recruit Cotton as a Boomer. Will we get there?