PERTH (Australia) - It was a belated introduction, but one worth the wait, and it couldn't have started on a brighter note.
Six-time NBL champion Bryce Cotton finally donned the green and gold for Australia in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
It’s bigger than me so I’m playing for the guys alongside of me.
Cotton could not have imagined a better beginning to his national team career.
"This is something I don’t think anybody dreams of - representing a country that you’re not from and they thought highly enough of you for you to represent their country," said Cotton per an Instagram post by the Australian Boomers.
"That’s something I could never have imagined."
Before Cotton joined the Boomers backcourt in Window 3, Australia were already sitting pretty at the top of Group A, with a perfect 4-0 record.
They were the first team from the group to progress to the Second Round of the qualifiers.
But never ones to rest on their laurels, the Boomers still found a way to upgrade their perimeter, with the addition of Cotton and Tyrese Proctor.
Against Guam, the 33-year-old Cotton delighted the Perth crowd - an atmosphere he is very familiar with as a former Wildcat - with 18 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds in a little under 19 minutes.
"You're playing against everybody that has that patriotism for their countries," said Cotton.
"You're literally playing against the world's best and if you're playing against the world's best, that means you were a part of it."
Everything escalates heavily and being a competitor, that’s something that you would enjoy being a part of.
His presence was acknowledged by Proctor in the post-game interview:
"He's been MVP of the NBL for many years. Obviously, growing up [I've] been watching him a lot. I think he had an amazing debut tonight. It was great having another ball handler out there that can get in the paint and create for others. We've been playing for 3-4 days together so it's just the start of something special."
With Southeast Asian powerhouse Philippines next on July 5, again in Perth, expect the 183 cm (6'0") guard's role to increase.
FIBA