'Nobody cares': Mindset of Perth's NBA star point guard

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Perth Wildcats point guard Brandon Knight declared, “I’m not resting on what I’ve done before,” as the 451-game former NBA star prepares for NBL27.

Knight, 34, inked a deal with the Wildcats on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, ending Perth’s “patient” search for a floor general to lead head coach John Rillie’s now championship contender.

“I think a lot of guys would say, of course, I think experience always helps,” Knight told Channel 10 sports presenter Lachy Reid.

“But at the end of the day, I’m not resting on what I’ve done before. This is a new league with new players, different experiences.

“I’m thankful for my time in the NBA, my 10 years in the NBA, but this is a completely different league. So I think experience playing in Greece, Puerto Rico, not just the NBA, but all these places will help my adjustment to the NBL.

“A lot of guys will take that and say, ‘I’m bigger than or better than because I played in the NBA.’ I take it as this is a new challenge. It’s something completely different.

“This is a very talented league with a lot of good players that play hard. The level of basketball is really high.

“I almost like to come in with a clean slate. And yeah, I know I played in the NBA, but I’ve got to come in with a mentality of nobody cares about that. It’s a new season, and it’s time to build something new here in Australia.”

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Brandon Knight drives to the basket for Team USA. Photo: FIBA.com

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The 1.88m American point guard averaged 14.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists during his nine-year career, topping out at 19.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Phoenix Suns in 2015-16.

He last played in the NBA in 2022 and has since hooped in Puerto Rico and Europe.

The Wildcats are banking on Knight being the experienced point guard they’ve craved since Bryce Cotton left the club at the end of NBL25.

“I’m sure the fans want to win it every year, and I’m in the same boat,” Knight said.

“If I’m there, the goal is to win a championship.

“I can for sure say that as long as I’m there, I’m going to compete. I’m going to play hard. And the goal is to win a championship.

“I’m not going to come in and say, ‘Hey, I just want to do well.’ No, we want to win a championship. That’s the goal.

“Danny and Rillie have made that clear to me: they think that this is a championship-level team.

“My goal is to come in and try to elevate those around me, help the guys that are already there, that have been there – Dylan, Doolittle – and just get the most out of what we have. Get the most out of our group, get the most out of our leaders and, like I said, just try to help and serve where I can.

“I’m just coming in and, like I said, I’m going to give my best and give my all, but it’s how can I make players around me better? The vision that’s set before me, which is a championship – how can I come in and add to that?

“It’s not about me. It takes five to win, or really more than that. It takes an entire team, an entire city.

“So how can I come in and fit into Perth, into the culture? How can I come in and fit into the coaching staff? How can I come and fit into the strategies? Whatever it takes to win, I’m not above anything, man. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Knight said his arrival is still TBC, but he hoped it’s imminent.

“Yeah, the body feels great,” he said.

“Ramping up now as we go. Of course, I wish I could be there already, but with contract talks and all those things, we just finally got it agreed upon.

“I’ll know here soon when I’ll be arriving. I know there’s some visa things and some other things that have to get sorted out, but hopefully sooner rather than later.

“It should be pretty soon. So, like I said, looking forward to it.”

Knight is part of an elite group of guards in NBL27 – arguably the best in league history with six-time MVP Cotton, MVP runner-up Kendric Davis, prime NBA-level guard Cole Anthony, European point guard Arnas Velička, Skylar Mays and Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

“Of course, I follow Cole and his career, so I’m very familiar with him and his time in the NBA,” Knight said.

“I know Kendric just was in the BSN for a couple of games, so we got a chance to play against each other a couple of times recently. Bryce, same thing. I played and competed against Bryce before in my career.

“So, very familiar with the guards and the players that are in the league. Delly, me and Delly were teammates for a little bit in Cleveland.

“I have a lot of guys that I’m very familiar with that are in the league. And I think that’s the best thing as a player. You want to be in leagues where you can go against the best of the best.

“I think that’s when you continue to get better as a player, and you can bring the best out of yourself.

“There’s a lot of really good players in this league and really talented, and a lot of guys that have a lot of grit and play hard.

“I love challenges. I love being in those environments. So, yeah, it’ll be exciting.”

Rillie and Mills have built a team to compete now, with a mix of depth and experience at every position now that Knight has signed.

Centre Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, forward Kristian Doolittle and wing Dylan Windler are all back for another tilt at the title.

“Absolutely. I’m definitely not going to get on here and say no,” Knight said when Reid asked if Perth was a contender.

“So, I’m all about speaking life over our team and making sure that our words have meaning.

“As long as we do what we’re supposed to do, with what I’ve seen from the guys that are currently there, and as long as I come in and do my part, and everybody comes in and believes and plays for one another and trusts what coach has in place, I absolutely believe that we’ll be in the hunt for the championship and have a chance to do some special things.

“But once again, it’s no disrespect to the guys that have been there, have been playing and have been competing – the Bryce Cottons, the Kendric Davises, the Dellys – the guys that have been there and really putting their stamp on it.

“I know they put a lot into it. So they’re probably maybe saying, ‘Who’s this guy think he is, to come in and say they could win a championship?’

“But anytime, any team I play on, I believe we have a chance to win.

“So, like I said, a lot of great players, a lot of great teams. But if I’m on a team and they’re bringing me in and they’re believing that we have a championship-calibre team, I’m in agreement and I’m excited about it.

“I believe we can compete with any team in the NBL.”