Why Bryce Cotton wears 11

Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton has revealed the inspiring reason he wears the number 11 jersey.

Cotton was born on 11 August, 1992, but his reason for choosing the now iconic jersey goes deeper than his birth date.

He told the story to NBL opponent Adam Gibson on the Gibbo Goes One On One podcast.

“I got sick with a rare form of epilepsy at nine, and I remember my mum had told me that the doctors told her to basically plan for a funeral by the time I hit sixth grade,” he said.

“They said I wouldn’t live past sixth grade, which would have met I would have died at (age) 11.

“Any time I put on my jersey it’s a reminder, when I see that 11, that I can’t take my life for granted and while I’m here I’ve just got to live it to the fullest and it’s something that always keep a chip on my shoulder but at the same time just be grateful for the life that I’m living and the dream I constantly pursue.”

Bryce Cotton wore 0 in his first season as a Wildcat, after arriving midway through the campaign, as 11 was unavailable.

He switched to his preferred 11 the following season in 2017/18 and has worn it since.

Cotton also wore 11 in high school and at Providence College.