Cotton ready: ‘Basketball will do the talking’

Adelaide 36ers star Bryce Cotton says he doesn’t expect any extra attention from his former team in Sunday’s blockbuster clash, pledging to let “basketball do the talking”.

Cotton’s controversial off-season move from the Perth Wildcats makes the sell-out game at Adelaide Entertainment Centre one of the most anticipated matchups of the season so far, but the man himself isn’t buying into the headlines.

“It’s just another game for me. I know there's a lot of hype and I guess story around it, but it's just another game that I'm hoping to win,” he said on Saturday.

While the 33-year-old confirmed he hasn’t spoken to Wildcats owner Mark Arena since leaving the club and feels he has “nothing to prove to him”, he maintains full respect for his former teammates and coaches.

“No, I don't expect anything,” Cotton said, when asked whether Perth would target him on Sunday.”

>> Rillie expects ‘a lot of emotion’ in Cotton clash

But should emotions boil over, he’ll just do what he does best.

“Basketball. Basketball do the talking. That's all it is,” he said.

“It happens sometimes and depending on what's said I may ignore it or sometimes I'll add more to whatever's said. Just depends on what mood.

“Whatever it takes to win … and you know, I have a good radar of what's normal banter and what's crossing the line. So depending on where I feel about what's said or things that are done on the court will indicate my reactions.”

Cotton and the 36ers have the chance to build on an impressive 7-2 start to the season and stay in touch with the two Melbourne teams.