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<\/p>\n
Days on from the incident, Doolittle fronted the media to address what unfolded, offering clarity on the situation and how the team has since moved forward as they prepare for their next challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just about the frustrating way to lose a game, but it\u2019s fine now,\u201d Doolittle said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe both understood it was just a thing in the heat of the moment and we woke up the next day getting ready for the South East game.<\/p>\n
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. of the Wildcats walks from the court after exchanging words with Kristian Doolittle after the final buzzer during the round 18 NBL match between Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United at RAC Arena, on January 25, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re both competitive and both want to win a championship, so a lot of things were said in the heat of the moment that were brushed over.\u201d<\/p>\n
The flashpoint stemmed from the final minute of the contest, after Milton Doyle knocked down a heavily contested step-back three to give United a one-point lead. The Wildcats had one final possession to steal the game.<\/p>\n
Doolittle took the last shot over two defenders, a decision that quickly became a talking point given Elijah Pepper was open on the perimeter. With time to reflect, Doolittle said the team\u2019s focus has been broader than a single moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, Doyle hit a tough shot \u2013 a contested step-back three \u2013 and then we had an opportunity to take the lead back the very next possession and we came up short,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always the last play that gets highlighted rather than what led up to that point, and that\u2019s what we reflected on as a team.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the game is over with and we have another game tomorrow. Our whole focus is to beat South East.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wildcats come up short in final seconds | 00:34<\/p>\n
Much of the external noise has centred on how the Wildcats would handle the aftermath of the exchange between two of their stars. For Doolittle, the solution was straightforward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re grown. At the end of the day, what was said was said and there was no animosity that lingered over from that moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re friends on and off the court. We\u2019re just competitors and we were both mad that we lost the game in the fashion we lost it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a league known for its physicality and emotion, moments like these are usually handled behind closed doors. Asked how players balance personal relationships with professional accountability in heated situations, Doolittle was clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you take it personal, you\u2019re not going to last long in this profession,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasketball is a competitive sport filled with competitive people. As long as that line isn\u2019t crossed, I feel like all is fair game.<\/p>\n
Kristian Doolittle addresses Perth mediaSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about taking it as constructive criticism rather than taking it personal and understanding everyone here has the same goal \u2013 winning a championship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Questions have also been raised about leadership within the playing group and coaching staff. Doolittle acknowledged the responsibility carried by the team\u2019s senior voices.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the onus and vocal leadership is on Jo, Jesse, myself and Dylan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re some of the more outspoken people on the team. Sometimes people handle things better than others, and we\u2019re still learning how to handle those situations the right way the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head coach John Rillie\u2019s message, delivered with fatherly simplicity, summed it up best: be nice to each other.<\/p>\n
The incident also drew attention to Wildcats assistant Ben Peterson, who was seen covering cameras as the exchange unfolded. Speaking on 91.3 SportFM, Peterson addressed reports the NBL had issued a please explain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure if the club\u2019s received anything, but I personally have not,\u201d Peterson said.<\/p>\n
Perth assistant Ben Peterson covers the broadcast camera as teammates separate Wildcats stars Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Kristian Doolittle.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a split-second decision and there\u2019s a camera two inches away from our guys\u2019 huddle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a little bit of personal space that needs to be involved, and you\u2019re just trying to defuse the situation in that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the incident won\u2019t be forgotten quickly, the real test comes next. The Wildcats host the Phoenix in Perth on Wednesday night, and how Doolittle and Lual-Acuil Jr respond on the floor will determine whether this moment fades into the background \u2013 or resurfaces.<\/p>\n
Doolittle\u2019s willingness to front the media, defuse the situation and provide clarity showed leadership in its truest form, reinforcing his standing as a leader both on and off the court as Perth pushes forward in its championship pursuit.<\/p>\n
Hawks HAMMER Bullets by 38 points! | 01:09<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It was a moment that left even an NBL legend stunned. \u201cI\u2019ve been in this league 36 years…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":441624,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":["post-441623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-basketball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441623\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/441624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}