Norton to play 300th NBL game

At just 29 years of age, two-time Wildcats Champion Mitch Norton will play his 300^th NBL game on Friday night when the Perth Wildcats take on Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Norton began his career in 2001 at the Townsville Crocodiles, where he played until 2016, before joining Illawarra Hawks for the next two seasons.

Ahead of the 2018 NBL season, Norton joined the Perth Wildcats, winning back-to-back championship in his first two seasons at the club.

Norton has represented Australia on the international stage on many occasions, winning gold at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon, and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

He said reaching this milestone was an incredible feeling.

“300 is a pretty cool achievement,” he said.

“Growing up, I would have been pumped and rapt to play one NBL game so to play 300 is something that’s pretty special, not only for me but for my family.

“Everyone has sacrificed a fair bit, mum and dad working different jobs to allow me to go away and play in different tournaments, and my little brother having to do homework in the car because we were travelling to and from trainings, and my partner moving across the country to allow me to live out my childhood dream of playing basketball for a living, which is the best job in the world.”

Norton re-lived some of his favourite memories in his 300 games so far.

“The first time I stepped out on the floor wearing a Townsville jersey,” he said.

“Growing up as a young fella, going to their trainings from about 8 years of age, watching guys run around at an elite level lit the fire in my belly for me to try and do this for a living, so it was pretty cool to get that experience in my hometown.

“And playing my first game in Perth is something I’ll never forget, it was always cool coming and playing here as a visiting player, but to have the Red Army on your side is something that’s very, very special, and then obviously winning my first championship is something I’ll never forget.”

Congratulations on the incredible milestone, Norto!

The Perth Wildcats take on Adelaide 36ers on Friday night, tip-off 4:30pm WST. Watch live on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel.