It has been just over a week since the Perth Wildcats signed NBA veteran Brandon Knight for the season, but after a tough opening-round loss in front of their home fans, the need for a genuine point guard was already apparent.
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Now, the Wildcats will have to wait a little longer, with Knight yet to arrive in Australia and ruled out of Thursday night’s clash against the Adelaide 36ers.
Knight, 34, is set to provide Perth with some much-needed depth at the point guard position, a role the club has desperately needed to fill since Bryce Cotton famously departed.
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Ironically, Cotton and the 36ers are the Wildcats’ next opponents, with the six-time MVP preparing to play his 300th NBL game inside a stadium he called home for nine seasons.
Sources told Fox Sports Australia that Knight will not be available for Thursday’s matchup and is unlikely to be ready to suit up until October 2, potentially leaving the Wildcats without their new import for the next two games.
For a Perth side already sitting at 0-1, it leaves them facing the possibility of a difficult start to the season before Knight has even stepped onto the floor.
Last week, Perth Wildcats General Manager Danny Mills spoke about the signing, detailing the lengthy process required before Knight can officially suit up.
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“All of those details are being worked out. He’s signed and now we are working on those things,” Mills told the West Australian
“We need to get visas done, we need to book flights, then he needs to get here and get medically cleared. There’s opportunities for next week but it depends on when we get him here and where the High Performance staff sees him. We’re not going to risk giving him the best chance we can to have success.”
Knight is a nine-year NBA veteran and brings a wealth of experience, but visas, international travel, medical clearance and the Wildcats’ high-performance requirements all need to be ticked off before he can make his NBL debut.
His absence comes at an unfortunate time for Perth, who are coming off a disastrous home opener against the South East Melbourne Phoenix, falling 100-79 in front of a frustrated Red Army.
Jesse Wagstaff of the Wildcats addresses the team following the round one NBL match between Perth Wildcats and South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena, on September 19, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Wildcats’ lack of a genuine facilitator was apparent, with star forward Kristian Doolittle forced into a point-forward role and finishing with a team-high seven assists.
While Doolittle is more than capable of creating for his teammates, it is not a role Perth can expect him to carry for extended periods, particularly given his importance as arguably the team’s best defender.
Elijah Pepper, Alex Dell’Orso and Jimmy Whitt are all serviceable ballhandlers, but none provide the level of experience or natural point guard play Knight is expected to bring when he eventually joins the line-up.
Kristian Doolittle of the Wildcats drives to the key against Dash Daniels of the Phoenix during the round one NBL match between Perth Wildcats and South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena, on September 19, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
For now, the Wildcats will have to find a way to keep their season afloat without their new star point guard, potentially for another two games, as the possibility of a winless start to NBL27 suddenly looms.