"Day-by-day": Star import close to Duking it out

It was a pivotal decision from Perth last week, when the club's powerbrokers made the decision not to bring in another guard.

That was despite the long-term injuries to David Duke Jr (elbow) and Jaron Rillie (hamstring), with the Wildcats opting to back in their current roster.

One of the major reasons for doing so, according to Wildcats GM of Basketball Operations Danny Mills, was the fact that Duke Jr. was closing in on a return to the hardwood.

“The longer we went through this [process], the more confidence we had in where he’s [Duke Jr.] at with his rehab,” Mills said on ESPN.

“It’s definitely not something that we think is going to be season-ending. It’s going to be sooner rather than later, which is really exciting.”

That news was reinforced by John Rillie this week, with the Wildcats' coach labelling it a "day-by-day situation".

“[Duke Jr.] is getting closer. He’s got some testing coming up,” Rillie said to the West Australian.

“Once he hits a point with the testing, and that is his strength, it really comes down to what he can handle with the physicality of a game. It’s certainly sooner rather than later.

“Once he passes the strength test, it is all systems go as long, as bouncing a basketball, taking a bump, and all of those types of things he is okay with. It is strictly like a day-by-day situation. It is close.”

The Wildcats, who are on a three-game win streak, host Cairns on Thursday night from 9.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.

Read the full story here >> Wildcats import David Duke is now a day-by-day proposition amid return to NBL from elbow injury