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Knight offers first rays of new rising 'son' for 'Cats fans
Former NBA star Brandon Knight works out in his new 'hometown' arena after arriving in Perth last week. Photo: Perth Wildcats.
Highlights
Perth's new point guard says he will lead by going first: vocal, consistent and never a know-it-all
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Miami - that's in Western Australia, Perth Wildcats American import point guard Brandon Knight ($277,000) submitted in his full sit-down interview on Wednesday.
"I'm going to treat this as if I grew up here in Perth and this is my precious baby," the 451-game NBA veteran said.
Knight was born in Miami, Florida, in 1991 and went to Pine Crest School in Florida before being recruited by the University of Kentucky in 2010.
The 1.91m floor general signed with Perth just days before the start of NBL27 and is yet to play for the 3-1 Wildcats. Head coach John Rillie is banking on the former Detroit Pistons first-round draft pick (8) to cast off the shadow of Bryce Cotton ($473,900)'s exit.
"My biggest thing is priding myself on having impact," Knight said.
"Not just influence, but impact.
"With my team, it's trying to impact the guys around me in some type of way. I don't know what that looks like every day. Every day may call for something new, but can I answer the call to impact my team that day, whether it be in practice or in a game? Can I answer the call to impact the community? Can my family do the same thing?
"I would say just coming out, playing hard, speaking life into our team and saying that we will win a championship this year is always the goal and always what we strive for.
"Knowing the history of this team and honouring the legacy that's here, honouring what the Wildcats fans expect, honouring what they come to see, honouring what they've come to know and love, and treating that the same way.
"I've got to treat it like a precious jewel. That's what I've done every place that I've been. Now I'm going to do it even more so now that I'm here.
"I'm going to treat this as if I grew up here in Perth and this is my precious baby.
"I'm going to do that with the guys. It comes with accountability. It comes with some heartache. It comes with some bumps along the way.
"But I'm just going to be consistent and work hard and show up every day and go get the championship."
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Knight's best season in the NBA came in 2015-16 for Phoenix: 19.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 36.0 minutes in 52 games. He didn't make the playoffs in his nine-year, 451-game career.
Knight played his last NBA game on April 1, 2022, before signing with the Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico. He lit up the BSN, averaging 24.4 points, 4.6 boards, 5.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game to win the Most Valuable Player and league scoring title. Knight had a 50-piece on May 4, 2023.
Last season, he suited up for Mets de Guaynabo (BSN) and in 20 games put up 18.0 points (47% FG), grabbed 3.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
"I've been, you know, for a little bit now watching the games around the league and trying to familiarise myself with the NBL in general and the style of play," Knight revealed.
"It comes to a point where you just want to get out there and kind of jump in the ocean, as they say, and get it going, get with the guys, start fighting with the guys and start building for something special.
"Really excited about the opportunity to come to Perth specifically and then about the opportunity of playing here soon. Looking forward to it."
Perth plays the New Zealand Breakers on Saturday, October 10, at RAC Arena at 9.30pm (AEDT), but the Wildcats are yet to reveal whether he will play.
"What I see from this team is fight," he added.
"A lot of guys that fight every possession. No quit, tenacity, intensity.
"That's how, since I've been here, the practices have been. That's how coach is: intense, direct, straightforward. You can see that identity transforming into the team on a nightly basis.
"That's been the biggest thing that I've seen from game one until these last couple of games, just the ability to fight no matter what the situation is."
Nine seasons in the NBA and multiple international seasons have given Knight the tools to lead a new team in a league he hasn't played in.
"It has to become a part of your identity, and you have to learn yourself," he said.
"You have to learn your strengths, your weaknesses - not even as a player, but as a person.
"You have to go into a situation and understand that, for one, the season has already started.
"So you have to be aware. You can't come in talking too much because then guys will tune you out.
"You've got to come in, try to find your footing. Let them see you're working hard. Let them see that you're one of the guys. You're not a know-it-all.
"Then just be open, honest, transparent. Love on the guys. As crazy as it sounds, introduce yourself and then just be consistent. I think that's the biggest thing that guys respect: consistency.
"As a point guard, you've got to be vocal. I don't care if we were just together 10 hours ago. A lot of times with basketball teams, you go home, you sleep, and you're right back, and guys can get a little tired of each other.
"But I don't care. 'Hey, how you doing? Good morning. How was your night? Family's good? Awesome, brother'.
"We're going to keep doing this every day. As you do that, more and more guys see who you are. They see that you care about them. You care about the result.
"You have to just go first, put your best foot forward.
"A lot of guys look at playing in the NBA 10 years, and there's a level of respect to it, but some guys may have a level of arrogance about that as well. So you've got to let guys know, 'I'm here with you guys. It doesn't matter.'
"We all are trying to achieve a common goal.
"In life with my kids and my wife, it's always go first. You take the first initiative. You go say hello. You go check on them. You go serve.
"When you do those things consistently, guys see where you stand and it becomes easier. It just becomes part of your identity."
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