Every game of the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season will again be LIVE, FREE and in HD via , with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
However, a spot on the Boomers team is very much on the cards for the three-time NBL champion and two-time league MVP.
The NBL’s best import of the past few season may soon be considered local talent and, if his application for Australian citizenship is given the all-clear, he could very well be on the plane to Tokyo in July.
Boomers coach Brian Goorijan has declared he is keeping an eye on Cotton’s situation as he prepares to select an Australia team which could be in with its best-ever chance of claiming a medal.
While it is still a waiting game until the Tucson, Arizona born Cotton can officially call himself an Aussie, the 28-year-old guard admitted the prospect of going to the Olympics with Australia is both a surreal and exciting concept.
“Yeah that would be a huge honour. To represent a country you’re not even from is a huge honour,” Cotton said.
“Going to the Olympics is something I’d not even dreamt of so to even have this even be a possibility is pretty crazy.
“Even as a kid I never thought it would be something which could happen which makes the fact it is actually a possibility now pretty special.
“I’ve submitted the paperwork and now it is just a matter of waiting. With everything going in the world on there are other things to attend to so it will come when it comes.”
After first opting out of his Wildcats deal at the end of last season, Cotton made a major NBL back-flip to return to Perth signing a bumper deal worth around $2 million which keeps him at RAC Arena for the next three seasons.
Opting to stay in Australia throughout the off-season as the coronavirus pandemic worsened in his native United States, Cotton said his family was the biggest factor in his decision to remain in Perth.
“It’s been different not going back home but it gave me a good opportunity to work on my body and stay in good shape,” he said.
“Instead of getting caught up in what was happening this year I needed to think long term and see what was best for my family.
“It (Australia) still feels like a home away from home but it is a better opportunity for me to give my family some stability and that was the biggest factor for me.”
With the new NBL season now less than a month away, Cotton said he is looking forward to getting back to work helping Perth towards a third straight title.
“It felt so good to be back on the floor during our preseason matches. It had been nine months since the final game of last season so it was a relief to finally get back to playing matches.
“We have had a few changes to the team in the offseason so the long lead-in has given us time to come together and learn how to make the most of our strengths.
“Every campaign we approach it in the same way giving by giving everything to help the team win and that is no different this time around.”
