Elijah Pepper: “We’re Excited, We’re Ready & We’re Going to Get This Win”

Elijah Pepper: “We’re Excited, We’re Ready & We’re Going to Get This Win”

The NBL playoffs are finally here, and for the Perth Wildcats, the road to the championship begins tonight against Melbourne United. Every player, every minute, and every possession will matter—and for Elijah Pepper, this is an opportunity to make a serious impact.

Pepper has experienced both high and low minutes throughout the season, but as the Wildcats enter the postseason, one thing remains clear: success in the playoffs requires total buy-in from every player on the roster. Despite seeing reduced court time in recent weeks, the talented guard remains locked in and ready to deliver when his number is called.

With Game 1 tipping off tonight, Pepper spoke about the team’s mindset heading into the high-stakes matchup.

“Everybody’s excited. We’re ready to go out there and get a win,” he said confidently.

While all eyes will naturally be on Bryce Cotton, Melbourne United will undoubtedly have a game plan to limit the five-time MVP’s impact. That makes Pepper’s role off the bench even more crucial. His ability to score at all three levels and provide an offensive spark could be the difference-maker, especially if United’s defensive schemes zero in on Cotton.

Pepper is coming off some dominant performances for the Boomers in international play, and when asked about his personal mindset heading into the postseason, he made it clear he’s staying ready for the moment.

“My focus is just to be ready to go,” he said. “I’ve had conversations with JR [head coach John Rillie], and we know we’re going to need our bench guys to step up if we want to win this series and the next.”

That level of preparation and self-belief is exactly what the Wildcats will need if they hope to make a deep playoff run. Pepper knows his capabilities, and if he gets his chance tonight, expect him to seize it.

Tip-off for Game 1 of the Wildcats’ semi-final series against Melbourne United is set for 7:30 PM AEDT (4:30 PM WST). The battle for the NBL championship starts now.