Wildcats add more NBA experience in Michael Frazier II

The Perth Wildcats are excited to announce the signing of former NBA wing Michael Frazier II to its roster.

Frazier is the Wildcats third and final import player signing ahead of the 2021/22 roster, with all three bringing NBA experience to the team.

The versatile American played for the Houston Rockets during the 2019/20 NBA season, as well as for the Phoenix Suns in the recent 2021 NBA Summer League.

He’s thrilled to be heading down under to join the Perth Wildcats.

"I’m very excited, I’m excited for the new opportunity, I’m excited to help the team bring another championship back to the club, back to the city. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the club and about Perth from a lot of people, so I’m ready to get this show on the road," said Frazier.

"I believe I’ll bring a lot of energy to the organisation, to the team, to the fans. I think I’m an exciting player who they will enjoy watching, I like to get the crowd into it. I think they’ll enjoy the energy and the passion which I play with."

Frazier, who has a 193cm 91kg frame, is a lethal perimeter scorer with the ability to push the floor in transition.

He’s also a committed defender who uses his 203cm wingspan and strong body to effectively guard opponents.

Wildcats head coach Scott Morrison described Frazier as a proven winner.

"I first saw Michael play in 2013 at the under-19 World Championships where he helped Team USA win gold. In that tournament, and following his career since then, I have always admired his competitiveness, intensity, and ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball," he said.

"A player of Michael’s calibre and versatility has no problem fitting into any system.  Adding those traits to our roster will make us an even deeper team on the perimeter while helping us have flexibility with our lineups, and how we attack."

Michael Frazier II played college basketball alongside former Wildcats championship-winner Casey Prather for the Florida Gators.

In his final season, he averaged 12.1 points, grabbed 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

Throughout his college career he shot the three-ball at a lethal 43.2 per cent.

Following college, Frazier played in the NBA G League as well as in Italy, before he received his first NBA opportunity in 2019/20, making 17 appearances for the Houston Rockets.

In 2020/21, the 27-year-old played for the Philadelphia 76ers affiliated G-League team, the Delaware Blue Coats, where he took his team to the Finals.

"He’s an exciting perimeter player who we’re adding to a really deep roster. I feel like we’ve got a really good mix of youth and veterans, and adding Michael is going to give us a lot of flexibility on how we play," said Perth Wildcats GM of basketball operations Danny Mills.

"As the game continues to modernise, positionless basketball is where it’s at, and having versatile players on the perimeter is what we’ve been looking for. We feel like Michael is a really great fit that will work very well with our current guys."

The Perth Wildcats now have 10 of 11 players signed to its 2021/22 roster, as well as two development players.

The season tips of on 3 December.