2025–26 Perth Wildcats season

2025–26 Perth Wildcats season
Head coach John Rillie
Captain Jesse Wagstaff
ArenaPerth Arena
NBL results
Record10–9 (52.6%)
Ladder5th
Finals finishTBD
Stats at NBL.com.au
Ignite Cup results
Record2–1 (66.7%)
Ladder2nd
Ignite Cup finishTBD
All statistics correct as of 18 December 2025.

The 2025–26 Perth Wildcats season will be the 45th season of the franchise in the National Basketball League (NBL), and their fourth under the leadership of head coach John Rillie.

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Perth Wildcats roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
C 0 Lual-Acuil, Jo 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 103 kg (227 lb)
G 1 Russo-Nance, Dontae 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
F 2 Mayen, Lat 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 92 kg (203 lb)
G/F 3 Windler, Dylan (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 85 kg (187 lb)
F 5 Doolittle, Kristian (I) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 105 kg (231 lb)
G 8 Dech, Sunday 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 92 kg (203 lb)
G 9 Rillie, Jaron  (DP) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 84 kg (185 lb)
G/F 10 Henshall, Ben 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
G 12 Duke Jr., David (I) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
G 13 Kouakou-Heugue, Noa (NS) 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
F 22 Gerovich, Thomas (DP) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
F 24 Wagstaff, Jesse (C) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 103 kg (227 lb)
F 25 Huefner, Cameron (DP) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 104 kg (229 lb)
F 35 Okwera, David 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 90 kg (198 lb)
G 40 Pepper, Elijah 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 91 kg (201 lb)
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Keegan Crawford
  • Ben Peterson
  • Aaron Young
Strength & conditioning coach(es)
  • Josh Cavanagh
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Development player
  • (I) Import player
  • (SRP) Special restricted player
  • (NS) Next Star player
  • Injured
Updated: 14 November 2025

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Development
PG David Duke Jr. (I) Dontae Russo-Nance Sunday Dech
SG Ben Henshall Elijah Pepper Jaron Rillie (DP)
SF Dylan Windler (I) Lat Mayen Cameron Huefner (DP)
PF Kristian Doolittle (I) Jesse Wagstaff Noa Kouakou-Heugue (NS) Thomas Gerovich (DP)
C Jo Lual-Acuil David Okwera

Standings

Ladder

Pos 2025–26 NBL season
Team Pld W L PCT Last 5 Streak Home Away PF PA PP
1 Adelaide 36ers 19 15 4 78.95% 4–1 W1 8–2 7–2 1762 1642 107.31%
2 Melbourne United 20 14 6 70.00% 1–4 W1 8–2 6–4 1918 1776 108.00%
3 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 19 13 6 68.42% 4–1 W3 7–3 6–3 1832 1671 109.63%
4 Sydney Kings 17 10 7 58.82% 3–2 W3 4–3 6–4 1571 1469 106.94%
5 Perth Wildcats 19 10 9 52.63% 2–3 L1 4–6 6–3 1677 1640 102.26%
6 Tasmania JackJumpers 18 8 10 44.44% 3–2 W2 2–6 6–4 1541 1550 99.42%
7 New Zealand Breakers 19 7 12 36.84% 3–2 L2 4–5 3–7 1693 1689 100.24%
8 Illawarra Hawks 18 6 12 33.33% 2–3 L2 4–6 2–6 1597 1732 92.21%
9 Cairns Taipans 18 5 13 27.78% 2–3 W1 2–9 3–4 1481 1699 87.17%
10 Brisbane Bullets 19 5 14 26.32% 0–5 L7 1–7 4–7 1621 1825 88.82%

Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: NBL.com.au

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

Ladder progression

Leader and qualification to semifinals
Qualification to semifinals
Qualification to play-in
Last place
2025–26 NBL season
Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
Adelaide 36ers—21223332211
Brisbane Bullets378977778899
Cairns Taipans747781091010101010
Illawarra Hawks—9981081087988
Melbourne United212111111122
New Zealand Breakers610101099899767
Perth Wildcats564365555445
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix156432223333
Sydney Kings—85656444554
Tasmania JackJumpers433544666676
Updated to match(es) played on 14 December 2025. Source: NBL.com.au

Game log

Pre-season

Main article: 2025 NBL pre-season

The 2025 NBL Blitz will run from 27 to 31 August 2025 with games being played at the AIS Arena, Canberra.[1][2]

2025 NBL Blitz game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
August: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 27 August Melbourne W 84–78 Ben Henshall (16) Ben Henshall (7) three players (2) AIS Arena
n/a 		1–0
2 29 August @ Illawarra L 100–92 Dylan Windler (27) Dontae Russo-Nance (8) three players (5) AIS Arena
n/a 		1–1

Regular season

Main article: 2025–26 NBL regular season

The regular season will begin on 18 September 2025.[3] It will consist of 165 games (33 games each) spread across 22 rounds, with the final game being played on 20 February 2026.[4]

2025–26 game log
Total: 10–9 (Home: 4–6; Road: 6–3)
September: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 20 September Tasmania L 72–75 Mason Jones (16) Jo Lual-Acuil (14) Jones, Windler (3) Perth Arena
11,701 		0–1
2 27 September @ New Zealand W 78–89 Jo Lual-Acuil (21) Dylan Windler (15) Doolittle, Henshall (3) Spark Arena
4,047 		1–1
October: 4–3 (Home: 1–2; Road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 2 October Illawarra W 92–84 Jo Lual-Acuil (22) Dylan Windler (14) Doolittle, Jones (4) Perth Arena
11,572 		2–1
4 10 October @ Cairns W 77–80 Jo Lual-Acuil (30) Dylan Windler (11) Russo-Nance, Windler (3) Cairns Convention Centre
3,985 		3–1
5 15 October Brisbane L 93–110 Mason Jones (19) Kristian Doolittle (5) Kristian Doolittle (6) Perth Arena
6,110 		3–2
6 19 October @ Sydney L 94–72 Jo Lual-Acuil (17) Kristian Doolittle (10) Lual-Acuil, Rillie (3) Sydney SuperDome
8,032 		3–3
7 22 October @ Cairns W 78–110 Jo Lual-Acuil (24) Kristian Doolittle (8) three players (4) Cairns Convention Centre
3,317 		4–3
8 25 October Illawarra L 84–85 Jo Lual-Acuil (18) Jo Lual-Acuil (12) Kristian Doolittle (5) Perth Arena
12,497 		4–4
9 29 October @ Tasmania W 84–95 Jo Lual-Acuil (23) Dontae Russo-Nance (7) Kristian Doolittle (4) Derwent Entertainment Centre
4,139 		5–4
November: 3–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
10 2 November @ S.E. Melbourne L 94–89 Kristian Doolittle (19) Kristian Doolittle (13) Jaron Rillie (7) John Cain Arena
9,386 		5–5
11 9 November @ Adelaide W 87–94 Dylan Windler (18) Dylan Windler (12) Dylan Windler (5) Adelaide Entertainment Centre
10,029 		6–5
12 15 November New Zealand W 88–75 Kristian Doolittle (24) Kristian Doolittle (14) three players (2) Perth Arena
12,350 		7–5
13 21 November Tasmania W 101–95 Kristian Doolittle (30) Jo Lual-Acuil (8) Kristian Doolittle (6) Perth Arena
10,930 		8–5
14 23 November @ Melbourne L 98–87 Kristian Doolittle (20) Kristian Doolittle (11) Kristian Doolittle (6) John Cain Arena
9,212 		8–6
December: 2–3 (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
15 4 December Melbourne W 96–84 Jo Lual-Acuil (18) Kristian Doolittle (9) Kristian Doolittle (7) Perth Arena
10,210 		9–6
16 7 December Adelaide L 94–95 Jo Lual-Acuil (19) Kristian Doolittle (11) Kristian Doolittle (6) Perth Arena
13,661 		9–7
17 12 December Sydney L 79–108 Dylan Windler (14) Dylan Windler (8) David Duke Jr. (7) Perth Arena
10,958 		9–8
18 14 December @ Brisbane W 62–86 Ben Henshall (15) Jo Lual-Acuil (9) David Duke Jr. (3) Brisbane Entertainment Centre
5,167 		10–8
19 18 December S.E. Melbourne L 76–77 David Duke Jr. (21) Dylan Windler (11) David Duke Jr. (5) Perth Arena
10,802 		10–9
20 21 December @ Tasmania Derwent Entertainment Centre
 –
21 28 December @ Adelaide Adelaide Entertainment Centre
 –
January: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
22 1 January @ Brisbane Brisbane Entertainment Centre
 –
23 4 January @ New Zealand Spark Arena
 –
24 10 January @ S.E. Melbourne State Basketball Centre
 –
25 16 January Illawarra Perth Arena
 –
26 22 January Cairns Perth Arena
 –
27 25 January Melbourne Perth Arena
 –
28 28 January S.E. Melbourne Perth Arena
 –
29 31 January @ Illawarra Wollongong Entertainment Centre
 –
February: 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
30 6 February Cairns Perth Arena
 –
31 13 February Brisbane Perth Arena
 –
32 15 February @ Sydney Sydney SuperDome
 –
33 20 February Adelaide Perth Arena
 –
2025–26 season schedule

NBL Ignite Cup

Main article: 2025–26 NBL Ignite Cup

The NBL introduced the new NBL Ignite Cup tournament for the 2025–26 season, with all games except the championship final counting towards the regular-season standings.[5][6]

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD BP Pts Qualification
1 New Zealand Breakers 3 3 0 325 262 +63 9 18 Ignite Cup final
2 Perth Wildcats 3 2 1 298 272 +26 7 13
3 Tasmania JackJumpers 3 2 1 259 246 +13 6.5 12.5
4 Adelaide 36ers 2 1 1 190 182 +8 5 8
5 Brisbane Bullets 2 1 1 194 206 −12 5 8
6 Illawarra Hawks 3 1 2 280 307 −27 5 8
7 Sydney Kings 4 1 3 350 381 −31 5 8
8 Melbourne United 2 1 1 200 200 0 4 7
9 S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 1 0 1 81 89 −8 1.5 1.5
10 Cairns Taipans 1 0 1 78 110 −32 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 17 December 2025. Source: Ignitecup.com.au


Transactions

Free agency began on 4 April 2025.[7][8]

Re-signed

Player Date Signed Contract Ref.
Dylan Windler 20 April 2025 2-year deal [9]
David Okwera 24 April 2025 1-year deal [10]

Additions

Player Date Signed Contract Former team Ref.
Cameron Huefner 4 April 2025 3-year deal Sam Houston Bearkats [11]
Sunday Dech 23 April 2025 3-year deal (mutual option) Adelaide 36ers [12]
Lat Mayen 23 April 2025 2-year deal Adelaide 36ers [13]
Jo Lual-Acuil 22 July 2025 2-year deal Al Ittihad Alexandria [14]
Mason Jones 8 September 2025 1-year deal Stockton Kings [15]
David Duke Jr. 24 October 2025 1-year deal San Antonio Spurs [16]

Subtractions

Player Reason left Date Left New Team Ref.
Michael Harris Free agent 7 April 2025 Adelaide 36ers [17]
Bryce Cotton Free agent 22 May 2025 Adelaide 36ers [18]
Mason Jones Released 17 October 2025 n/a [19]

Awards

Club awards

  • Club MVP:
  • Coaches’ Award:
  • Most Improved Player:
  • Best Defensive Player:
  • Players’ Player:
  • Hall of Fame inductees:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Blitz heads to Canberra". NBL.com.au. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Canberra back on NBL agenda with hosting of Blitz". CanberraTimes.com.au. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  3. ^ Uluc, Olgun (20 June 2025). "Storylines everywhere as NBL releases schedule for 2025-26 season". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  4. ^ Jackson, Andrew (20 June 2025). "'Personal' rivalries as 'hurt' US star, five-time MVP face former teams: NBL and WNBL Schedule". Fox Sports. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  5. ^ Uluc, Olgun (7 October 2025). "NBL Ignite Cup: Everything you need to know". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  6. ^ Shadlow, Jai (7 October 2025). "'All roads lead to Gold Coast': In-season tournament reveal adds to NBL expansion rumblings". Fox Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Free agency begins April 4". NBL.com.au. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. ^ "NBL26 Roster Tracker: Every signing, extension and departure". NBL.com.au. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ^ "'Unfinished business' for Windler after signing two-year deal". Perth Wildcats. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Perth reveals next move". NBL.com.au. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Forward thinking: Wildcats sign emerging talent". NBL.com.au. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Two-time NBL champion returns home to Wildcats". Perth Wildcats. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Versatile forward joins Wildcats in latest free-agency addition". Perth Wildcats. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  14. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (22 July 2025). "Jo Lual-Acuil: Perth Wildcats sign former Melbourne United star on a two-year NBL contract". The West Australian. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ Uluc, Olgun (5 September 2025). "Perth Wildcats set to lock in final import". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Ex-NBA guard puts pen to paper with championship contender — NBL Rumour Mill". Fox Sports. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Harris signs on for NBL26 season". Adelaide36ers.com. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Bryce Cotton signs bombshell multi-year deal with Adelaide 36ers". ESPN Australia. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  19. ^ Uluc, Olgun (17 October 2025). "Perth Wildcats part ways with import Mason Jones". ESPN Australia. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
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