COO and GM Danny Mills on The West Sports Show

Perth Wildcats COO and General Manager of Basketball Operations Danny Mills has given the Red Army an extensive inside look at the Club’s NBL27 off-season build, speaking at length on The West Sport Show about roster construction, recruitment priorities and the direction of the organisation heading into next season.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Mills discussed the Wildcats’ returning core, the importance of continuity, the Club’s approach to filling its final roster spots and the challenges of navigating the rapidly changing global basketball landscape.

For Wildcats fans wanting a genuine off-season pulse check, this is one worth watching here in full.

Mills covers the stability already locked into Perth’s roster, with Kristian Doolittle, Dylan Windler, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Elijah Pepper, Ben Henshall, Jesse Wagstaff and Jaron Rillie all set to return as part of a group the Club believes can continue building towards championship contention.

“We’ve got a great core foundation of a team that over the last three years has been to the semi-finals, two game threes, haven’t got to that next series, the championship series, which obviously everyone wants to get into and win it,” Mills said.

“But the fact we’ve got those experiences behind us and guys returning from that with a hunger and a coaching staff that wants to get to that next level, no doubt we’re in a really good spot.”

The Wildcats COO also outlined exactly what the Club is still searching for across the remainder of the roster build, identifying playmaking, frontcourt depth and athleticism on the wing as priorities heading into NBL27.

“We need playmaking, someone that can run a team.”

Mills also touched on the excitement around Jaron Rillie’s return after an injury-interrupted debut campaign, revealing the Club saw enough in the young guard’s first 15 games to believe he can become a major piece moving forward.

“There were games where you’re like, we could use his composure, his playmaking, his ability to connect players,” he said.

“I think there was a lot of trust, even with the senior guys, when they saw how he could control a game.”



The conversation also delves into the Wildcats Academy, the evolution of the Next Stars program, the Club’s long-term list strategy and the challenge of balancing immediate success with sustained contention.

“As much as we want to win a championship more than anything and we’ve gotten close and it hurts, if that’s at the expense of having a championship one year and then you’re not even close to it for five, it’s not worth it,” Mills said.

“We’ve got to make those right decisions now and for what it means going forward.”

With roster moves still to come and NBL27 beginning to take shape, Mills’ full appearance on The West Sport Show provides the Red Army with one of the clearest looks yet at where the Wildcats sit this off-season.