Perth Wildcats heading to Vegas for G League Fall Invitational

July 12, 2023 11:46 am.by Rowan Anderson

Perth Wildcats

The Perth Wildcats will compete in the G League Fall Invitational as they prepare for the 2023-24 National Basketball League season.

The squad will head to Las Vegas in September for the historic series against the NBA G League Ignite, featuring some of the top NBA draft prospects in 2024.

Last year the Wildcats played pre-season games against French side Metropolitans 92, which included San Antonio Spurs-bound first draft pick Victor Wembanyama.

They now will become the first Australian basketball side to take on the Ignite, with the games to be held at The Dollar Loan Center on September 6 and 8 as part of a nine-day trip to Nevada.

The NBL season will officially tip off for the Wildcats when they host the Tasmanian JackJumpers on September 29.

Although Perth have missed out on playoffs in each of the past two seasons, top online bookmakers have them on the third line of outright betting at $6 to take the 2023-24 NBL title.

A key recruit for Perth this season is NBL Next Star talent Alex Sarr, whose older brother Olivier was recently signed by the Oklahoma City Thunder on a two-way contract.

The 18-year-old French native will use the Australian league as a springboard to bigger things, as he is projected to be a top-20 pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

Wildcats fans will also get a sneak peek at other new recruits such as NBA draft prospect David Okwera, former Cairns Taipans star Keanu Pinder, and NBA Global Academy tournament representative Ben Henshall.

The Wildcats have won the NBL championship 10 times and hold the distinction of being the only professional Australian sports team to make the post-season for 35 consecutive years, between 1987 and 2021.

Wildcats general manager Danny Mills was thrilled for the opportunity to represent Western Australia and the league on a global stage.

“We are thrilled to have been invited to travel to Las Vegas in early September to compete in a two-game series against G League Ignite,” Mills said.

“Taking our team and the organisation to play on a global stage is an integral part of our long-term strategy as a club.

“We are incredibly excited and grateful that G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Ignite GM Anthony McClish have provided our club this opportunity to represent the city of Perth, the state of Western Australia and the NBL in what we hope is an ongoing collaboration.”

NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim welcomed the Wildcats and was excited for the opportunity.

“The international presence within the G League grows stronger each year, and with these preseason games against a storied and successful program in the Perth Wildcats, we’re excited to continue to showcase some of the best young prospects and top talent from around the globe,” he said.

“If last year’s games are any indication, this will be another competitive and electrifying preseason.”

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