There's a new leader in Perth

After dominating last year’s Hungry Jack’s NBL Finals Series, Kristian Doolittle is ready to shoulder even more responsibility in his second season with the Wildcats.

Bryce Cotton may be gone, but Doolittle isn’t chasing the spotlight. He’s ready to lead in his own way.

"I don't necessarily feel like I'm the face of the Perth Wildcats. I understand where they're making that connection to, but I feel like I've taken on greater responsibility,” he said on NBL Now.

"What I'm doing now is bigger than myself.

"With Bryce gone … I know we're shifting into a new era.

"I plan on picking up on the success that I had last year, but ultimately I just want to win a championship."

Doolittle, Dylan Windler and Sunday Dech headline the early core of a Wildcats roster that’s still very much under construction.

With the departure of Cotton and the weight of expectation that comes with being part of a powerhouse club, there’s pressure to land a marquee replacement. But Doolittle is leaving those calls to the front office. He's leaving it to the experts.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily for me to decide. Credit goes to Danny (Mills) and JR (John Rillie). They’ve done a great job the last two years putting together teams built to win a championship,” he said.

“We’ve finished in the semi-finals both times, but it's a step in the right direction in terms of consistency as contenders. I’ve never constructed a team before, so I have complete faith in them to assess our strengths and weaknesses.

“I've always been placed in positions of power, not because I seek it, but because I naturally fit that role. Because of that, I don’t abuse that power. I try to make situations better not just for myself, but for everyone around me. From my experience, success only comes that way.”

Fresh off a Finals run that included a 37-point showing against United and averages of 24 and 10, Doolittle didn’t hesitate to lock in a return to Perth for NBL26.

“With how I played, I could have probably gone somewhere that paid a bit more … but Perth welcomed me with open arms after I left France, took a chance on me, and gave me an opportunity to keep playing basketball,” he said.

“With JR re-signing, the new management, and how they’ve looked after me and my family, it was a no-brainer to stay as long as I could.

"I feel like my goals of winning a championship align with Perth as well, and so everybody is focused on a championship."

For the sixth straight year, Doolittle has used a Puerto Rican stint to stay sharp in the off-season - preparation he says sets him up perfectly for another strong run in Perth.

“This is where I started, and in a way, I pay homage to the success that I've been able to have in my career by coming back to where it all started,” he added.

“I'm on a different team now, but I love the league out here and the environment as well. I feel like this league is steadily growing. It's a shorter season, but it's good basketball.

“It's just the preparation I put in. With my workouts, I try to pace myself while understanding that I still have another full season to go. It can get tough because I'm very competitive. I tend to go hard and can be my own worst enemy, because I love to play basketball and I'm not always thinking about the long term.

“But I give everything I have every single time on the court, regardless of who I'm playing for. I take care of my body with proper diet, treatment and recovery. It's the only way I'm able to keep going.”

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