Cotton: 'I got my Phil Jackson back'

“Never in a million years” did Bryce Cotton expect to reunite with Trevor Gleeson, but the six-time MVP and five-time championship coach will link up again in Adelaide as they chase the 36ers’ first title since 2002.

Speaking at the launch of HoopsFest in Perth on Friday, Cotton jokingly compared linking back up with Gleeson to Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson teaming up for a second stint at the Los Angeles Lakers, a partnership that turned three championships into five.

Cotton and Gleeson worked together for four seasons at the Wildcats, winning three titles, and will now look to bring success to the NBL26 runners-up, Adelaide.

“Kobe went, I think, five or six years without winning the championship. He got Phil Jackson back. Then he got him a couple more. So, I said, ‘All right, I finally got my Phil Jackson back’. So, we'll see how the rest of the story pans out,” Cotton said.

“It's going to be amazing. I think for me, never in a million years would I have thought me and Trev would be reunited, let alone reunited with a different team.”

Asked whether he was eager to make history in Adelaide, Cotton was emphatic.

“I pray to God that happens,” he said.

Perth veteran Jesse Wagstaff was part of all five of Gleeson’s championship-winning rosters at the Wildcats and said a coach of his calibre returning highlighted the strength of the League.

“I think it's great for the League. I think it's great for Adelaide,” he said.

“You mentioned the reception that he'll (Gleeson) get back in Perth. I think you saw the reception that Bryce got during the season. It was nothing but respect and love and I would expect nothing less for Trev.

“He was an integral part of the organisation and brought great success. So, I'm looking forward to seeing him again.

“I think Adelaide are a hell of a team before Trev and they'll be a hell of a team after Trev. But you also look around the League and I kind of find myself saying it every year, the league continues to get stronger and stronger and the calibre of player that continues to come back to this League and the League attracts is just phenomenal … and the calibre of coaches as well.”

Gleeson will begin his duties with the club next month.

“I’ve been watching from afar and just the vision of the team and where it’s headed,” he said on Friday.

“It really matched up with the vision and what they were looking for in a coach. That got me excited and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”