Dribble Podcast: Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton reveals how he’s setting NBL fitness records

Bryce Cotton doesn't have many regrets in terms of his sporting career, having won three NBL championships, three NBL MVP awards, and two NBL grand final MVPs. He would, however, like to travel back in time and play for his college in 2014 for an additional two minutes.

His squad didn't lose a game as a result of those lost minutes. They didn't deduct any points from him either. He lost time at those moments. Cotton, a Providence player, was on the court for 73 more minutes that season than any other collegiate player while participating in 40-minute matches.

He did, however, fall two minutes short of averaging 40 minutes on the court over his 35 games once overtime was added, and he is aware of this.

I don't like that I only played 39.9 minutes a game instead of 40, Cotton said on The Dribble Podcast of The West Australian.

I was averaging at one point 40.5 minutes per game due to double overtimes. It only failed because I injured myself in the opening game of the Big East tournament. I left for two minutes before entering again. "I still find that bothersome nowadays."

Up until that point, Cotton had sat out just seven total minutes in his previous 20 games. Four of those games required double overtime, extending the game's duration to 50 minutes. None of those were his places of repose.

Cotton still had the stamina in the penultimate game of the regular season's double overtime to force a turnover in the final seconds, draw a foul, and earn the victory with the ensuing free throws.

Cotton stands out due to his physical condition and strong work ethic. No player in the NBL's 40-minute era has ended the season with stats so high, and he is averaging more than 36 minutes per game for the Wildcats this year.

The 30-year-secret old's is a demanding pre-season routine that he and his friend and basketball coach Jaamal Rhodes established in Tucson, where they both grew up, shortly after the latter lost his NBA contract with the Phoenix Suns.

Cotton has made a yearly trip home, with the exception of when the borders were shut during COVID.

Except for when the borders were shut during COVID, Cotton has gone home every year and endured weeks of intense one-on-one training with Rhodes, who pushed him to his physical and mental limits. Cotton performed those sessions alone in Perth when he was unable to fly home.

I take a lot of pride in my physical fitness. I am aware of how many minutes I log each season and how difficult it is for me to make baskets, Cotton said.

"I take pride in the fact that when the game is close in the third or fourth quarter, I try to get my body ready to have that little additional wind so my legs and my shoots aren't falling short and feel as wonderful as they did to start the game," the player said."Jaamal and I." That right there is my dude. It's fantastic to see him every time.

"I love all the nasty talk we have with each other while working out." Occasionally, during the course of the season, there may be grinds or lulls when you might think, "Man, I'd give everything to have Jaamal right now for five minutes of trash talk full of banter." When he says something that I need to hear, I am ready to go.

Cotton has always been active, but he only participated in one season of competitive running. In year 8, he competed in the 400 and finished the season unbeaten. Despite the fact that his mother also races the 400, he, ever the competitor, likes to remind her that he has never been defeated in the event.

Despite his quickness, Cotton lacked the height of most of his opponents, unlike his uncle David Adams who was a running back in the NFL. He instantly found inspiration for overcoming that difficulty in NBA MVP Allen Iverson, another guard who used top fitness to wear out his opponents.

Cotton analysed Iverson's games from college to the NBA to pick up his tips and get inspired.

Being fit is one thing, though. It's an additional method of exercising. Additionally, Cotton had the enormous hurdle of having to start over with his fitness after being unable to run for months when he required severe leg surgery due to a hematoma in 2021.

Yet by the end of the regular season, Cotton once more had the most playing time in the NBL.It was quite difficult.

One of two things had to happen: "You're either going to survive this or you're not, sink or swim," Cotton remarked.

As serious as that surgery is, the main thing I feel happy about is that no one has spoken about it. I feel fortunate. It almost seems as though no one is aware that I had surgery because I don't appear to have missed any steps.

Cotton played for over 38 minutes in Perth's exciting victory over New Zealand on Tuesday, and when his playing time exceeded 36 minutes, he gave them the lead. Despite consistently performing at a high level,Yet by the end of the regular season, Cotton once more had the most playing time in the NBL.It was quite difficult.

One of two things had to happen: "You're either going to survive this or you're not, sink or swim," Cotton remarked.

As serious as that surgery is, the main thing I feel happy about is that no one has spoken about it. I feel fortunate. It almost seems as though no one is aware that I had surgery because I don't appear to have missed any steps.

Cotton played for over 38 minutes in Perth's exciting victory over New Zealand on Tuesday, and when his playing time exceeded 36 minutes, he gave them the lead. Despite consistently performing at a high level,Cotton can be counted on to be at his exceptional best even after experiencing tiredness no NBL player has ever experienced.

Bryce Cotton will never look back on his commitment to physical fitness and his ability to step up when it counts.