Mission Impossible: The mindset to guard Wildcats master Bryce Cotton according to a former MVP

On a record-breaking streak, Wildcats’ Bryce Cotton is attracting interest from all over the globe and one former NBL MVP says the NBA would ‘be insane’ to not give the star guard a shot.

If anyone is qualified to talk about the merit of Bryce Cotton’s remarkable, record-breaking scoring run, it’s Sydney Kings star guard Jaylen Adams.

The Kings’ former NBL MVP has been repeatedly handed the unenviable task of guarding Cotton throughout his three seasons in Australia.

Adams has also taken on the world’s best guards during his time in the NBA, including Steph Curry, Dame Lillard and James Harden – so he understands what greatness looks like.

It’s why the ex-Milwaukee Buck believes Cotton’s four straight games over 40 points is worthy of an NBA call-up post the NBL season.

“Hell yeah – I think you’d have to be insane not to give him (Bryce) a chance in the NBA,” said Adams, who has played 44 NBA games for Atlanta, Milwaukee and Portland between 2018 and 2021.

Jaylen Adams says Bryce Cotton deserves a chance in the NBA. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

“His scoring run now is one of the best I’ve ever seen from any player.

“The only thing I can really compare it to is James Harden when he was at the Houston Rockets. It feels like when teams come up against Cotton there isn’t much they can take away from him.

“Perth is also doing a really good job of finding him. What Bryce is doing at the moment is special.”

Adams says Cotton sits alongside NBA guards Harden, Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Trae Young from a scoring perspective.

However, the Wildcat also possesses his own unique traits that make him almost impossible to guard.

“What makes Bryce even harder is that he never stops running and he doesn’t need the ball in his hand to make an impact,” he explained.

“He’ll come off a pin down and shoot or nail a three following an offensive rebound, so you can’t lose him and you have to focus for the whole time he is on the floor.

“His movement off the ball is so elite that my mindset guarding him is to try and keep the ball away from him because if he gets it, you just have to hope for the best. He’ll either score or you’ll foul him.

“You’ve just got to try and limit his touches and then hope for the best after that because he is one of the toughest players to guard once he gets hot.”

Bryce Cotton is on another level 🤯✨

Cotton becomes the first player in 33 years to score 40 points or more in four consecutive games. https://t.co/L6sdfN7PUipic.twitter.com/wIKig9eMCr

— NBL (@NBL) December 14, 2024

Cotton is also super fit, which gives him more time and space to shoot – often leaving his gassed opponents in his wake.

Adams certainly knows what it feels like to be chasing his tail against the Perth Wildcats’ little master.

“Yeah Bryce has to be fit to play all those minutes and constantly run the way he does,” Adams said with a sheepish grin.

“He doesn’t stop moving. He is also a very underrated defender. It’s not like he just attacks and then rests.

“He is unpredictable, takes good shots and is a decent cutter, so it’s definitely a team effort to stop him.

“Any team that goes in with the mindset of trying to take him on one-on-one shouldn’t because Bryce will just burn you.”

Bryce Cotton is the first player since Andrew Gaze in 1991 to drop 40+ points in four consecutive games 🤯

He is also the third player to ever do it 😳 pic.twitter.com/iG7DXaxnUp

— NBL (@NBL) December 16, 2024

BRYCE COTTON’S HISTORICAL NBL SCORING HEATER: 

59 points vs New Zealand Breakers

40 points vs Illawarra Hawks

49 points vs Adelaide 36ers

44 points vs Cairns Taipans

*Cotton is the first player since the legendary Andrew Gaze in 1991 to score 40-plus points in four consecutive games.

*He has a chance to record 40-plus points in five straight games when the Perth Wildcats travel to Wollongong to take on the Illawarra Hawks on Sunday from 2.30pm (AEDT).