‘What does he have to Doo?’: Rillie makes the case for Kristian

As the Perth Wildcats climb the NBL ladder, Kristian Doolittle’s influence remains impossible to ignore.

Now 28, he is delivering the most impactful season of his three-year tenure in the League, anchoring a Wildcats side emerging as a genuine championship threat.

But coach John Rillie believes Doolittle’s value is still being overlooked.

“It perplexes me that he doesn’t get mentioned for awards categories,” Rillie said after the Wildcats’ victory on Friday.

Doolittle delivered another dominant performance, finishing with 32 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while limiting the influence of Jack McVeigh at the other end of the floor.

“He’s very versatile and his last month has been very productive and probably a little correlation to the way we’re playing as well,” Rillie said.

“The one I’m really curious about is Defensive Player of the Year … we all evaluate it in our own way and the way I think about this … if you’re to just line up and play one-on-one, he can defend every player in the league.

“Tell me one other player that has that ability.”

John Brown III has been widely tipped as the favourite for the award, but Rillie says Doolittle's impact is unrivalled.

“Last week it was JaVale McGee (matchup), then it’s a point guard, then it’s Jack McVeigh … as far as versatility and wanting the challenge … if anyone thinks anyone else can defend one-through-five with the ability he does, please let me know,” he said.

Doolittle is averaging 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game across the NBL26 campaign, the best numbers of his professional career.

The Wildcats sit fourth on the NBL standings with a 19–11 record.