Bryce Cotton facts for kids
Cotton with the Perth Wildcats in 2022
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| No. 11 – Mets de Guaynabo | |
|---|---|
| Point guard / shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 11, 1992 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| High school | Palo Verde (Tucson, Arizona) |
| Listed weight | 76 kg (168 lb) |
| Career information | |
| College | Providence (2010–2014) |
| NBA Draft | 2014 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2014–present |
| League | Baloncesto Superior Nacional |
| Career history | |
| 2014–2016 | Austin Spurs |
| 2015 | Utah Jazz |
| 2015–2016 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2016 | Xinjiang Flying Tigers |
| 2016 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2016 | Anadolu Efes |
| 2017–2025 | Perth Wildcats |
| 2018 | Brescia Leonessa |
| 2025–present | Mets de Guaynabo |
| 2025–present | Adelaide 36ers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Bryce Jiron Cotton (born August 11, 1992) is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico. He also has a contract with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's NBL.
Bryce Cotton is famous for his time with the Perth Wildcats from 2017 to 2025. During these years, he helped the team win three NBL championships. He also won the NBL Most Valuable Player Award five times. He was named the Grand Final MVP twice. Plus, he was chosen for the All-NBL First Team eight times. He also led the league in scoring eight times.
Before playing professionally, Cotton played college basketball for the Providence Friars. He was a top player in the Big East Conference in 2013 and 2014. After college, he played short stints in the NBA for teams like the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns. He also played in other leagues around the world.
Cotton joined the Perth Wildcats during the 2016–17 NBL season. He quickly became a star. He led them to an NBL championship and was named the Grand Final MVP. He continued to win awards, including multiple NBL MVP titles and more championships. In May 2025, he signed with the Adelaide 36ers.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Bryce Cotton grew up in Tucson, Arizona. His parents separated when he was very young. His father was a police officer far away. Bryce later reconnected with his father in college. His uncle, David Adams, who played in the NFL, often helped his family financially. Bryce's grandmother, Mary, helped raise him and his brother Justin.
As a child, Bryce loved sports like basketball, football, and baseball. In fifth grade, he was advised to stop playing football. This was because of a health challenge. He had a rare form of epilepsy. Doctors were worried, but Bryce bravely overcame it. His last seizure happened on his last day of sixth grade. He took medicine for several years but eventually did not need it anymore.
After focusing on basketball, Bryce realized he was not very tall. He worked with his uncle to find ways to compete against taller players. He spent a lot of time playing basketball outdoors.
High School Basketball Journey
Bryce Cotton spent his junior year in Las Vegas. He then finished high school at Palo Verde High School in Tucson. In the 2009–10 season, he helped Palo Verde reach a 24–7 record. They made it to the state 4A semifinals.
As a senior, he averaged 23.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.7 steals per game. He scored 30 or more points nine times. His highest score was 40 points in a win against Buckeye. He also set a school record with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in one game. He earned First Team All-City and First Team All-State honors in 2010. Bryce also had excellent grades in school.
Bryce was not highly sought after by colleges at first. Some schools turned him down. He even tried to get a scholarship from a smaller college.
College Basketball Career
Freshman Year at Providence
Bryce's family could not afford college tuition. His dream of a scholarship seemed over. But then, Providence College offered him a scholarship just three days before freshman orientation. He had planned to go to another college, but he chose Providence instead.
In his first game, he scored 15 points. During his freshman year (2010–11), he mostly played from the bench. He averaged 4.0 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
Sophomore Season Success
In his second year (2011–12), Bryce became a starter. He was the team's second-highest scorer, averaging 14.3 points per game. He was also good at shooting three-pointers. In one game, he scored a career-high 34 points against Bryant. He also scored 27 points against Louisville.
Junior Year Challenges
Bryce continued with the Friars for his junior year (2012–13). He had to step up and lead the team due to injuries to other players. He achieved his first "double-double" with 24 points and 11 rebounds against Bryant.
In December, he injured his knee. He had a torn meniscus but decided to keep playing through the pain. He scored a season-high 33 points against Boston College. He led the Big East Conference in scoring with 18.3 points per game. He was named to the first-team All-Big East. After the season, he had surgery to fix his knee.
Senior Season Highlights
In his final college season (2013–14), Bryce played an incredible amount of minutes. He averaged over 40 minutes per game. His tireless play helped the Friars have their best season in ten years. They made it to the Big East tournament with a 20–11 record.
The Friars won the Big East tournament title. It was their first since 1994. Bryce was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. In the NCAA tournament, he scored a career-high 36 points against North Carolina.
As a senior, Bryce averaged 21.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He led the Big East in assists and was second in scoring. He was again named to the first-team All-Big East. He finished his college career as the fourth all-time leading scorer at Providence. Bryce graduated with a good GPA in sociology.
Professional Basketball Career
Early Years: NBA, D-League, and Overseas (2014–2016)
Bryce Cotton was not chosen in the 2014 NBA draft. However, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. He played in Summer League and preseason games. He then joined the Austin Spurs, their NBA Development League (D-League) team. In the 2014–15 season, he was a top scorer in the D-League, averaging 22.4 points. He was named a D-League All-Star.
In February 2015, Cotton signed with the Utah Jazz. He made his NBA debut and played 15 games for them. After being waived by the Jazz, he returned to the Austin Spurs. In November 2015, he signed with the Phoenix Suns. He played a few games before returning to Austin. He then played in China for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
In April 2016, Cotton signed with the Memphis Grizzlies and played five games. Later that year, he played for Anadolu Efes in Turkey. He left the team in December 2016 due to safety concerns in the country.
Perth Wildcats Era (2017–2025)
First Championship and MVP (2016–17)
In January 2017, Bryce Cotton joined the Perth Wildcats in Australia's NBL. In his first game, he scored 26 points, setting a new team record for a debut. He quickly became a key player. He even turned down an NBA contract to stay with the Wildcats.
He led the NBL in scoring during the regular season. In the finals, he was amazing. He scored 34 points in a semi-final game. The Wildcats swept their semi-final series. They then swept the Grand Final series, winning the championship 3–0. Bryce was named the Grand Final MVP. In the final game, he scored an incredible 45 points, setting a new NBL Grand Final scoring record.
NBL MVP Season (2017–18)
After trying to get back into the NBA, Bryce decided to return to the Wildcats for the 2017–18 NBL season. He turned down an offer from a Spanish club. He continued to be a top scorer. He scored a season-high 36 points in December.
He led the NBL in three-pointers made and total points scored. He averaged 19.4 points per game. He was named the NBL Most Valuable Player for the season. He was also selected for the All-NBL First Team. The Wildcats lost in the semi-finals that year. Bryce was named the Wildcats' Club MVP. After the NBL season, he played briefly in Italy for Brescia Leonessa.
Second Championship (2018–19)
In June 2018, Bryce signed a three-year deal to stay with the Wildcats. He won the MVP award at the NBL Pre-Season Blitz. He had many high-scoring games, including 37 points in a win against the Brisbane Bullets. He even hit a game-winning three-pointer with less than a second left.
He missed a few games due to injuries. But he helped the Wildcats finish first in the regular season. He was named All-NBL First Team and Fans MVP. He also led the league in scoring for the second time. The Wildcats won their semi-final series. They then won the NBL Grand Final series 3–1, giving Bryce his second NBL championship. He was named the Wildcats' Club MVP for the second year in a row.
Third Championship and Double MVP (2019–20)
Bryce returned for the 2019–20 NBL season after recovering from a thumb injury. He continued to score big points. He reached 2,000 career points faster than any other Wildcat player. In December, he scored a season-high 39 points.
He finished the regular season as the NBL's leading scorer. He also led the league in steals. This made him the first player in NBL history to lead in both categories. He was named All-NBL First Team and won the NBL Most Valuable Player Award for the second time.
In the semi-finals, he scored 42 points and made 10 three-pointers in one game. The Wildcats reached the NBL Grand Final. They won the series 2–1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was stopped early. The Wildcats were declared champions. Bryce was named the Grand Final MVP again. He became the first Wildcat to win league MVP, Grand Final MVP, and a championship in the same season. He also won his third straight Wildcats Club MVP award.
Third NBL MVP (2020–21)
Bryce signed a new three-year deal with the Wildcats in May 2020. The 2020–21 NBL season started in January 2021. He continued his strong play, with many games over 30 points. He helped the Wildcats win the first-ever NBL Cup.
In May, he had to stop playing for the rest of the season due to a leg injury. He still averaged career highs in points (23.5) and assists (5.7). He won his fourth NBL scoring title. He was named NBL MVP for the third time. He also won Fans MVP and was named to the All-NBL First Team. Without Bryce, the Wildcats lost in the Grand Final.
Fifth Scoring Title (2021–22)
Bryce was fully recovered for the 2021–22 NBL season. He continued to be a top scorer, with several 30-point games. He played his 150th game for the Wildcats in January 2022. He finished the season as the NBL scoring champion for the fifth time. He also made the most three-pointers ever by a Wildcat in a regular season. He was named to the All-NBL First Team and won his fourth Wildcats Club MVP. The Wildcats missed the finals for the first time in 35 years.
Sixth Scoring Title (2022–23)
In May 2022, Bryce signed a new three-year deal with the Wildcats. In the 2022–23 NBL season opener, he reached 500 career three-pointers. In January 2023, he scored 40 points in a game. This was his first 40-point game in the NBL regular season.
He led the NBL in scoring for the sixth time. He was also named to the All-NBL First Team for the sixth year in a row. The Wildcats made it to the play-in games but lost. Bryce won his fifth Wildcats Club MVP award.
Fourth NBL MVP (2023–24)
The 2023–24 NBL season started slowly for Bryce and the Wildcats. But he soon found his form. In December, he scored a season-high 41 points. He reached 5,000 NBL career points in January. He became one of only three players in the NBL's modern era to score 5,000 points.
He led the league in minutes played. He was the NBL scoring champion for the seventh time. He won the NBL MVP for the fourth time, joining Andrew Gaze as the only players to do so. He was also named Fans MVP and to the All-NBL First Team. He won his sixth Wildcats Club MVP, tying a club record. The Wildcats lost in the semi-finals.
Fifth NBL MVP (2024–25)
Bryce started the 2024–25 NBL season stronger than ever. In September, he scored 26 points with eight three-pointers. In October, he suffered a rib injury and missed five games.
When he returned, he had an incredible scoring streak. On December 1, he scored 59 points in a game. This was the most points scored by any player in the NBL since 2009. It also broke the Wildcats' all-time scoring record. He then scored 40 points in his next game, and 49 points in the game after that. He became the first NBL player since 1991 to have three straight 40-point games. He then had a fourth straight 40-point game, a very rare achievement.
He finished the regular season with a career-high 28.6 points per game. He became an eight-time scoring champion. He won the NBL MVP for the fifth time. He was also named to the All-NBL First Team and Fans MVP. He won his seventh Wildcats Club MVP, setting a new club record. The Wildcats reached the semi-finals but lost.
After nine seasons, Bryce Cotton decided to leave the Wildcats. He played 258 games for them, averaging 23.1 points per game.
Mets de Guaynabo (2025–present)
On March 6, 2025, Bryce Cotton signed with Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico. In May, he scored a season-high 29 points.
Adelaide 36ers (2025–present)
On May 23, 2025, Bryce Cotton signed a three-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia. He chose to return to the NBL to play for head coach Mike Wells. Wells was an assistant coach at the Utah Jazz when Bryce played there in 2015.
Personal Life
Bryce Cotton is the son of Yvonne and Charles Cotton. He has three brothers: Justin, Chaz, and Elijah. College helped Bryce reconnect with his father and meet his brothers Chaz and Elijah. His uncle, David Adams, played football in the NFL.
Bryce married Simone Tubman in 2014. He later married Rachel, who is from Perth, Australia. Their daughter was born in Australia in November 2019. Before 2020, Bryce would usually return to the United States after each NBL season.
Australian Citizenship Journey
In July 2019, Bryce Cotton applied for an Australian visa. He hoped to become an Australian citizen to play for the Australian Olympic team. However, there were many delays, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February 2021, he received a special visa. He then applied for citizenship. But over the next two years, his citizenship was not approved. It was found that a technicality in his visa process made him ineligible. He was told he could not reapply until 2025. More delays happened in 2025 because he spent time outside Australia.
In January 2024, Bryce said he was no longer interested in playing for Australia. He was frustrated by all the delays. If he had become an Australian player, the Wildcats could have paid him more without it affecting their team salary cap as much. But as an import player, his full salary counted against the cap.
See also
In Spanish: Bryce Cotton para niños
