'Time to say goodbye': Five-time NBL MVP confirms surprise next move

Three-time NBL champion Bryce Cotton has announce he will not be returning for the Perth Wildcats after nine seasons with the club.

Cotton confirmed his departure from the club on Instagram on Tuesday morning, stating it was time "to say goodbye" and begin his next chapter with his family.

The 32-year-old admitted that while his journey was not as successful at times as he had hoped, he was grateful to those who supported him along the way.

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"Perth will always be home, but it's time to say goodbye and see what else God had planned for me and my family," he wrote on Instagram.

"To the red army, y'all have welcomed me with open arms from the time I first stepped onto Aussie soil till I scored my last basket of the season a few weeks back.

"I came (to Perth) expecting to be here six weeks and it turned into accomplishing things that no other player has achieved in their first nine seasons in the history of the league.

"I had my slumps along the way on the court but you guys never turned back on me and always showed genuine support. I can never thank you enough for that.

"I can only hope you had half as much joy watching me playing as I had playing in front of y'all year after year.

"Win, lose or draw, I gave you, my teammates and coaches everything that I had. Thank you for accepting the good games, the bad and everything in between."

It is unclear where the five-time NBL MVP will land to continue his career but he has been heavily linked to make the move to the Japanese league.

Trevor Gleeson would be a familiar face for Cotton if he were to make the move to Japan as the former Wildcats coach has taken over the reins of the Chiba Jets.

Cotton is currently signed with the Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico for the 2025 season.

He ends his time with the club as an eight-time All-NBL First Team player, two-time grand final MVP and having clinched eight scoring titles.

The 2024-25 season was arguably his best season in the league as he netted an average of 28.1 points per games over the regular season and playoffs.

The American star set the record for the most points scored by a player in the modern era in December, posting 59-points against the New Zealand Breakers.

"We cannot thank Bryce enough for what he's done for our club across the past nine seasons," Wildcats owner Mark Arena said in a statement.

"His achievements at the Wildcats have been nothing short of historic and he will go down as one of the greatest players in our proud history.

"While we're obviously disappointed that Bryce isn't going to continue his career at the Wildcats... (but) we wish him the best for the future and have the utmost respect for what he's achieved with our team."