Kristian Doolittle has become one of the NBL\u2019s most established imports, recently reaching the 100-game milestone in his fourth season with the Perth Wildcats. But for the 29-year-old forward, his first taste of basketball in Australia came years before he eventually landed in the league.<\/p>\n
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Speaking exclusively to Fox Sports Australia, Doolittle reflected on his basketball journey before becoming one of the NBL\u2019s most recognisable names, from his college days alongside NBA stars Trae Young and Austin Reaves, as well as former Wildcats import Brady Manek, to his experiences playing professionally around the world.<\/p>\n
It was a journey that took him through Puerto Rico, Israel and Japan before eventually finding a home in Perth, where he has since established himself as one of the league\u2019s premier forwards.<\/p>\n
![\"Kristian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/ebf710c9dc1eb80a36aa48cfa36c1133.jpeg\")
Kristian Doolittle of the Wildcats poses during a Perth Wildcats 2026\/27 NBL Headshots Session at NEP Studios on September 05, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm\/Getty Images\u00c3\u0082\u00c2 for NBL)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Doolittle committed to the Oklahoma Sooners in 2016, spending four years with the college between 2016 and 2020. Across 84 appearances, he developed into one of the program\u2019s standout players, averaging 15.8 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 44.1% from the field in his final season.<\/p>\n
He was also named the Big 12 Most Improved Player in 2019.<\/p>\n
However, it was during his college career that Doolittle first experienced basketball in Australia.<\/p>\n
Kristian Doolittle #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners moves with the ball against the Texas Longhorns at the Frank Erwin Center on January 23, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta\/Getty Images)Source: getty<\/p>\n
In August 2017, Oklahoma travelled to Australia and New Zealand for a 12-day tour, playing four games against opposition representing the New Zealand Breakers, Sydney Kings, Cairns Taipans and Sutherland Sharks.<\/p>\n
Doolittle admitted he initially believed the Sooners would be facing the NBL clubs\u2019 main rosters, only to discover they would be competing against players closer to their own age.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t like their main team. And so I was confused when we got over here because we were playing like people our age,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we beat them pretty badly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kristian Doolittle in 2017 with the New Zealand BreakersSource: getty<\/p>\n
Doolittle wasn\u2019t wrong, with Oklahoma recording a convincing 133-91 victory over the Breakers, whose side featured former New Zealand guard Taylor Britt.<\/p>\n
Despite that early introduction to Australian basketball, Doolittle admitted the experience played little part in his eventual decision to join the NBL.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, no. Just because I ended up going other places first,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so then when I was introduced to the NBL and then hearing from Brady\u2019s [Manek] family about Perth and stuff like that and hearing nothing positive things.<\/p>\n
Kristian Doolittle of the Wildcats drives at the basket during the 2026 NBL Blitz match between the Cairns Taipans and Perth Wildcats at Red Energy Arena on September 02, 2026 in Bendigo, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock\/Getty Images for NBL)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cThen being given a contract opportunity just took advantage of it and, you know, turned it into this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before arriving in Perth, Doolittle spent several years playing overseas, including stints in Puerto Rico, Japan and Israel.<\/p>\n
During his time with Israeli club Hapoel Eilat, he briefly crossed paths with another familiar Wildcats name in three-time NBL champion Casey Prather, who was recovering from surgery at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe [Casey Prather] had just got done with his surgery, I believe,\u201d Doolittle said<\/p>\n
Kristian Doolittle of the Wildcats controls the ball against Casey Prather of the Bullets during the round 10 NBL match between Perth Wildcats and Brisbane Bullets at RAC Arena, on November 29, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane\/Getty Images)Source: getty<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so he was around a little bit after his surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Doolittle, his time in Israel was about much more than basketball. At just 22 years old, he was still adjusting to life as a professional athlete, and the experience quickly opened his eyes to the realities of playing for a living.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was all right. I got there on the tail end of their Euro cup tournament,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Bold player swaps, fixing glaring flaws – How NBL mid-season trades could save clubs<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAnd so my first game was a Eurocup game. So I didn\u2019t, you know, as a rookie, I didn\u2019t know what was going on and so I was just trying to figure it out.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it was my first experience of being a professional, but then seeing how the professional world works in terms of basketball and understanding that this is no longer being played for fun. It\u2019s being played to put food on the table.<\/p>\n Kristian Doolittle of the Wildcats poses during a Perth Wildcats 2026\/27 NBL Headshots Session at NEP Studios on September 05, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm\/Getty Images\u00c3\u0082\u00c2 for NBL)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cSo dealing with a lot of veterans on the team, especially when I was 22, playing with people late 20s, early 30s, It was a wake up call for me, but it was a good thing.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a great time out there and I feel like I was able to build on that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Doolittle went on to play 19 regular-season games for Hapoel Eilat, averaging 8.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.6 minutes per game.<\/p>\n