The Perth Wildcats have launched an international search for a temporary replacement player after American import David Duke junior suffered a significant elbow injury.
Global Hunt for a Stand-In Player
Wildcats General Manager Danny Mills confirmed to The West Australian that the club is actively speaking to agents across the world. The mission is to find a suitable player who can join the Perth-based squad on short notice. This move comes after Duke sustained ligament damage to his left elbow during the team's loss to Adelaide on December 28.
Duke, who has played 12 matches this season and is already qualified for finals, is currently wearing a brace on his arm. Fortunately, he does not require surgery and will remain in Australia to focus on his rehabilitation. The Wildcats are keen to give him every chance to return and contribute during the playoff series later this season.
The Tight Deadline for Finals Eligibility
The National Basketball League (NBL) rules stipulate that any replacement player must feature in at least seven regular-season games to be eligible for the finals. For the Wildcats, this creates a firm deadline. A new signing must suit up for the clash against Melbourne on January 25 to have any chance of playing in the postseason.
"We are scouring the market and evaluating," Mills stated. "We can talk about a timeline for David and hope he gets back, but we can’t drop games in the meantime. We have to [look at the market]."
Mills highlighted the unique challenges of the Australian league's schedule, noting that the NBL season concludes much earlier than many other competitions globally. This factor, combined with the NBA's 10-day contract window opening from January 5, makes the recruitment process particularly complex.
Uncertain Timeline for Duke's Return
While Duke was seen at training with his arm out of the brace recently, he promptly put it back on when leaving the Perth High Performance Centre. The club has refrained from setting a concrete return date, emphasising that recovery from this type of injury is highly individual.
"It’s an injury we can’t really put a timeline on. We just know it’s going to be weeks," Mills explained. "It comes down to confidence and pain tolerance. People heal at different times. It could be longer than predicted but it could be shorter. It’s a really hard one."
The Wildcats' management now faces a critical few weeks, balancing the immediate need for on-court performance with the long-term goal of having a full-strength roster ready for a finals campaign. The decision on whether to sign a replacement, and who that player might be, must be made before the January 25 cutoff.
