Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton was visibly distressed during Adelaide’s 97–85 win over the Illawarra Hawks.
It’s still unclear what sparked the emotion from the champion guard, but midway through the third quarter he abruptly stopped mid-play to speak with head coach Mike Wells before walking off the floor – leaving his teammates to defend four-on-five. For a player of Cotton’s stature, the moment was a clear sign that something wasn’t right.
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At three-quarter time, Cotton was seen punching a wall in frustration. He later returned to the game still visibly shaken, prompting commentators to speculate that he might have suffered an injury after repeatedly grabbing at his hip.
But as the fourth quarter unfolded, it became evident his distress wasn’t physical.
Concern quickly spread across social media, with NBL reporters and fans alike expressing worry for the star guard.
Cotton, being the champion that he is, soldiered on for the rest of the game, scoring 31 points along with 3 rebounds and a career-high 13 assists.
More to come.