Crosscourt NBL news: Bryce Cotton’s citizenship bid a success for the Adelaide 36ers, making him a local player in NBL

In the wake of revelations Cotton’s half-decade battle to become an Australian had finally been won, on Friday night, the five-time NBL MVP took to Instagram to confirm the news.

“I have finally been approved for Australian citizenship,” Cotton, who made a bombshell move from Perth to Adelaide this off-season, wrote.

“This is a blessed moment for me and my family.

“Also a special moment for a lot of people who have supported us over the years as we’ve tried to make this happen.

“By the grace of God the hard work has now paid off.

“Australia truly means the world to me.

“I have felt Aussie all along, but now it’s official.

“Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi.”

Cotton revealed Cox, once a college basketball who landed at Collingwood in 2015 and won a premiership in 2023, connected him with migration law expert Ricky Bustos.

There’s a little irony for South Australian sports fans in Cox’s help for Cotton. The revelation came less than 24 hours after Cox helped Collingwood knock over top-of-the-table Adelaide Crows in Thursday night’s AFL qualifying final at Adelaide Oval.

Crow fans who double as 36ers fanatics - the NBL club sold out every single home game last season and has a membership waiting list approaching 10,000 this season - will have to temper their hate for Cox, given the doors his Cotton connect has now opened for the franchise.

The Sixers now have the luxury of signing another import, given Cotton will now qualify as a local.

A source told Code Sports Bustos guided Cotton, who had attempted several different potential pathways to citizenship, through an untried approach. I

t’s understood this bid was ultimately successful thanks to Cotton showing he met partner conditions through his marriage to Australian-born wife Rachel.

“My family and l are forever grateful for Ricky’s tireless efforts and approach to my citizenship case,” Cotton wrote.

“So glad my family and Ricky decided to take a different approach to what the previous efforts had been.”

Shortly after Cotton went public with his Friday evening confirmation, the 36ers issued a statement of their own, congratulating their new $4 million mega star and conceding the path to citizenship was largely forged by Cotton through his own means.

“We know how much this means to Bryce, who has called Australia home since 2017,” the club statement read.

“While we were pleased to support his application in any way we could, the credit belongs to Bryce, his wife Rachel and their lawyer Ricky Bustos, who have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality.

“Bryce has already given so much to Australian basketball, and we’re excited to see him continue his journey, both on the court and in life, as an Australian.”

WHICH IMPORT COULD 36ERS SIGN?

Former Sydney Kings champion and grand final MVP Derrick Walton Jr would be a name to watch. Adelaide has previously held discussions with the Michigan native, particularly last season when he eventually signed with South East Melbourne.

A Walton Jr-Cotton back-court would be one of the best combinations in the NBL.

Cotton first applied for Australian citizenship in 2019 while with the Perth Wildcats, but has encountered numerous delays.

In 2021, the star guard was officially detained in Melbourne while paperwork for a Distinguished Talent Visa was being processed.

That 30 minutes where he was technically without a visa was determined as Cotton being in the country illegally and he received a four-year ban from applying until 2025.

In February, he hit out at the Australian Government after his bid to be naturalised copped another setback.

Cotton’s initial four-year ban was extended – all because he spent more than 90 days overseas in the last 12 months due to off-season games for the Perth Wildcats and one away game in New Zealand.

Thankfully, the 36ers have paved the way for the champion guard to become an Australian citizen.

Boomers legend Andrew Gaze said he would love to see Cotton – the NBL’s modern day little master – given a shot in the green and gold if he became naturalised, which will now happen.

“Bryce has paid his dues and if he can maintain his form then I think if you are the Australian coach you need as many candidates for the Boomers as you possibly can,” Gaze said about 33-year-old Cotton.

“I was a very strong advocate for trying to get Bryce through previously and that certainly wouldn’t change now.”

Cotton’s first step in proving he is Boomers ready will come on September 21 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena when his 36ers take on Panathinaikos and reigning EuroLeague MVP Kendrick Nunn.

The former NBA backup guard has dominated since joining the EuroLeague in 2023 and can’t wait for his matchup against the NBL’s five-time MVP.

“I’ve seen him (Cotton), he is a good player – very explosive,” Nunn said.

“He has been killing it over there for many years and I’m excited to play against him for sure.”

NBL HQ MOVE AMID BREAK-INS 

NBL is moving HQ to a new building in Cremorne, and the relocation can’t come soon enough after being burgled twice. Crosscourt reckons the League is leading in the turnovers statistic despite the season not yet having started after thieves broke into the current South Melbourne office and stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, laptops, monitors and hard-drives – even the CEO Dave Stevenson’s lolly jar was taken.

Making matters even worse, the same thing happened a few weeks later when the thieves returned, presumably for more than just another sugar-fix.

Again, tens of thousands of items went out the door. But rather than hide out of site, the new HQ is loud and proud as the home of hoops – it’s adorned with two huge portraits of Australian basketball champions Andrew Gaze and Lauren Jackson.

JACKIES IMPORT A MVP BOLTER?

Bryce Cotton has owned the NBL’s MVP award in recent history, but could a Tasmania JackJumpers import guard steal the award this season?

Commentator Peter Hooley certainly thinks so – with the former player turned broadcaster tipping JackJumpers import guard Bryce Hamilton to have a bumper season.

“The easy answer is to say Bryce wins again, but I think Bryce Hamilton is going to be very good if he can adapt to the league quickly,” Hooley said.

Tasmania’s title defence in NBL25 ended with a seventh-place finish, but the JackJumpers are primed to hit back hard this season.

Coach Scott Roth’s team in Tassie have assembled a balanced roster, headlined by astute recruits like Hamilton and ex-Bullet Josh Bannan.

Add in one of the NBL’s best big men in Boomer Will Magnay and the Jackies should be right in the championship mix again this season.

Hooley is one who has faith in Tasmania to regain their status as a genuine force in NBL26.

“Tassie is a team that I’m really high on,” he said.

“As long as they stay healthy – and let’s see what Tyger Campbell can produce – but Hamilton is a stud, Will Magnay is one of the best bigs in the league and they have versatility and play the Tassie way.”

HOW UNITED’S CULT FIGURE IS BRINGING NEW EYES TO NBL

Finn Delany is settling into life just fine at his new NBL club in Melbourne – and he’s brought with him a legion of new fans to the NBL and United.

The Kiwi forward has developed a cult following in Japan, where he spent last season with Veltex Shizuoka, before linking with Utsunomiya Brex and helping lead it to the gold at Basketball Champions League Asia in Dubai.

Passionate Asian basketball fans have followed Delany back to the Aussie league.

A recent post on United’s Twitter account featuring Japanese subtitles had over 250 retweets, almost every one written in Japanese and expressing love for the 30-year-old.

“They’re amazing fans, amazing people … and amazing basketball culture and community,” Delany told Crosscourt.

“(I was) very lucky to meet and interact with a lot of people over there and they keep tabs on social media.”

He’s loving his time in Melbourne after 183 games across eight seasons with the Breakers and he’s already developed a synergy with imports Milton Doyle and Tyson Walker.

“(Melbourne’s) a great city, great club, very well run and I’m really enjoying my time so far and I’m really excited,” Delany said

“They make me look good. Yeah, There’s a lot of weapons and playing with those guys has been really enjoyable so far.”

YIN YANG WEEK FOR NEWEST ‘NIX SIGNING

It’s been a bit of a mixed week for South East Melbourne’s first-year pro Daniel Foster.

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During last week’s CODE Sports NBL Blitz, the 24-year-old wore a heavy blow from New Zealand (and former Phoenix) forward Reuben Te Rangi and left the floor clutching his shoulder.

Scans revealed a grade one AC joint injury and the Perth-born guard will miss two-three weeks – but there’s an optimism he’ll recover in time for the Phoenix’s season opener against Cairns on September 20.

News this week Foster, who signed as a development player in April, had been elevated to the main roster would have soothed the Nevada Wolfpack product’s pain.