NBL superstar Bryce Cotton opens up after coach’s caring act amid distressing scenes in 36ers’ loss to HawksGlenn Valencich7NEWS SportThu, 20 November 2025 8:37AM
NBL superstar Bryce Cotton has thanked Adelaide 36ers assistant coach Kerry Williams for his support during highly emotional scenes on Wednesday night.
Cotton was scoreless early and then appeared proppy later in the Sixers’ 97-85 loss to Illawarra, with club staff reporting he was experiencing nausea.
But he was also seen wiping away tears before hinting much more personal troubles were affecting him.
“I was dealing with a lot. I was able to channel my energy and focus on staying in the games and giving it all I got,” Cotton told SEN.
“Last thing I wanted to do, despite what I was going through is come out (of the game) and we end up losing. That would have really bothered me.
“If we were going to strike out, I wanted to strike out swinging at least.
“(I believe) no matter the things that you face or what you’re dealing with, you don’t run from it.
“I’ve always played this game from my heart, and I wanted to be sure, even through everything I was feeling, that I didn’t let my teammates down and still be effective.”
Emotions spilled over for the five-time MVP after Williams stepped in to embrace and talk through things with the star guard during a break in play between free throws.
“I’m one of those guys when I’m struggling, and then you show me some support, that makes me almost more emotional,” Cotton said.
“One of the coaches pulled me aside, and he said a quick prayer with me, and it just made me lose it all over again.
“It meant the world to me for him to pray for me in that moment.”
Cotton had started the game scoreless but hit two three-pointers inside two minutes in the second quarter.
In the third term, Cotton feasted on inexperienced opposite man Johny Narkle with his footwork, shooting yet another three through Narkle’s foul on a four-point play then stepping around him for a deep two.
The American-born combo guard finished with six made threes from 10 attempts.
“He just was a little nauseated. He must’ve been really sick, guys, you know what I mean? 36 minutes, zero turnovers, 13 assists, 31 points. He was really feeling sick,” Adelaide coach Mike Wells joked.
“It’s not a big issue. He was just a little upset, his stomach or whatever not feeling great.”
Cotton’s combination with Isaac Humphries was particularly valuable and helped the big man to outshine his opposite centre – three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee (12 points, 10 rebounds).
Cotton dished up three assists to Humphries (22 points, nine rebounds) in the third quarter alone, notably popping the ball up for the big man to land a two-handed dunk through the lane.
With Cotton in fine touch, the Sixers finished the third term on a 10-2 run that handed the hosts a lead they never surrendered.
A particular highlight came in the final two minutes of the game as Cotton sent a long pass into the key for a flying Zylan Cheatham (12 points, seven assists) to throw down an alley-oop.
The Hawks have now lost seven consecutive games in Adelaide and have a 4-8 record begin their championship defence.
“We’ve had a tough go this whole year and wins are so valuable,” said Hawks guard Tyler Harvey.
“We’re going to do everything we can to play consistently for four quarters. If things don’t go right, we can’t sulk, we’ve just got to get right back to it. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a chance against anybody.”
Quentin Peterson’s five three-pointers from seven attempts were a bright spot for a Hawks side that came up short of answers once the league’s biggest star began rolling.
In a moment of late drama, referees ejected Sixers import Nick Rakocevic for leaving the bench and entering the court during a fracas between McGee and Cheatham.
But by that point, the result was beyond doubt.
– with AAP
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