To dunk or not to dunk, that is the question (again)

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Perth Wildcats big man Jo Lual-Acuil Jr's dunk in the closing seconds was a big issue until it wasn't, as the home team closed out the Adelaide 36ers 86-74 in the last game of NBL26 in Perth on Friday, February 20, 2026.

‍JLA’s dunk was gentle and in the flow, but it’s an unwritten rule in the American game not to dunk or attempt to score when the game is over, running the clock out.

36ers head coach Mike Wells had a brief, animated exchange with Wildcats head coach John Rillie as Rillie went to shake hands at the final buzzer.

Wells tried to take the heat out of it, but really didn't, in the post-game press conference.

“Not a big deal to me," Wells said.

"I just thought there’s no real point differential at the end there. I didn’t think JLA needed to lay the ball in.

"That’s just my personal preference on that one. They’re in, we’re in — everybody’s in the playoffs. Not a big deal.

“But I’m just so proud of our group. They kept competing. JLA could’ve kept subbing back in — to me, that was a sign of respect for the job our guys were doing and what Nick was doing in the post and Matt Kenyon flying around.

"We were kind of mixing and matching to see if we could get the momentum of the game out there a little bit.”

Rillie said he was caught off guard, but:  “Once I understood what was going on — Americans that come out here at that part of the game, it’s handled a little differently over there — so I understood his level of frustration.

"But when you play in a league where percentages and all of that take place, it’s just become part of our game.

"When I first came back from the US coaching in college, it took me a minute to understand that. We’re all learning.

“With the way the league’s structured with how they configure playoffs and percentages, until that changes, that’s going to be part of our game.

“I had no problem with it.”

Former NBL champion and colour commentator Mark Worthington said it was time for the unwritten rule to be written out, declaring “play better” or take getting dunked on in the closing seconds.

basketball.com.au agrees, Mark.

‍It’s a game for the fans, and those in the stands and watching on TV want to see dunks. The NBL is about percentages, and even though this clash wasn’t affected by for-and-against, the habit is the habit.

The only disappointment was JLA didn’t try to rip the rim down, especially after Bryce Cotton ripped Perth's heart out earlier in the season.

Wells simply needed to take the L and head to the Gold Coast.