In Thursday’s press conference, Bryce Cotton spoke to the media after officially being unveiled as a Boomers player.
The star guard admitted there is still plenty of work to do if he wants to make the squad for the upcoming Olympics, but said beginning that journey in the same stadium he called home for nine years made the moment even more special.
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“It’s very surreal for me. Even when I first put the jersey on, it just took a little bit of time to, I guess, stare at Australia and then see my name on the back,” he said.
“It’s been a very long process. Nonetheless, finally got here. I’m very grateful for the opportunity and I’m excited. And of all places to where I can play my first game as a Boomer, it’s Perth. So very ironic, funny how fate turns out sometimes. But yeah, definitely looking forward to it. This is a huge moment for me and my family.
“It will be nice to be back in Perth and all the Perth fans can definitely cheer for me because I’m not playing against the Wildcats, so that’ll be pretty cool.”
Cotton is set to make his debut in July during the FIBA World Cup Asia Qualifiers, when the Boomers take on Guam and the Philippines on July 3 and 6 at RAC Arena in Perth.
The Boomers currently sit atop Group A with a perfect 4-0 record and have already secured progression to the second round, meaning the upcoming games will not affect their qualification outcome.
Cotton also spoke about the possibility of one day facing his birth nation, the United States, on the international stage.
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“It would be amazing, but playing against any country, you think about it, right?” he said.
“For all sports, it’s the world’s best competing against the world’s best. And to have an opportunity to be a part of that, whether it’s representing the country I was born in or another country thinking enough of me to want me to represent their country is of equal honour in my mind.”
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approaching, Cotton now has a genuine opportunity to represent Australia in the green and gold. The question, however, is who he could potentially replace in the squad.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Australia fielded a star-studded roster featuring Patty Mills (captain), Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Josh Green, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Duop Reath, Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Will Magnay and Jack McVeigh.
Several key veterans are nearing the latter stages of their international careers, with Ingles (38), Dellavedova (35) and Mills (37) all expected to face uncertainty heading into Los Angeles. By the time the Olympics arrive, Cotton himself will also be 35, making the competition for spots even more intriguing.
Another complication is FIBA’s ruling allowing only one naturalised player per national team. That could force Australia into a decision between Cotton and Matisse Thybulle, 29, who missed selection for the Paris Olympics squad. Thybulle qualified as a naturalised player after living in Sydney between the ages of two and seven, giving him dual citizenship eligibility.
For now, though, Cotton is simply preparing to pull on a Boomers jersey for the first time in what will be a historic moment for both himself and Australian basketball, officially beginning his journey towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.