Perth Wildcats coach John Rillie says his side’s point guard position will be played “by committee” in their NBL season opener against South East Melbourne.

The Wildcats signed veteran American floor general Brandon Knight on Monday, less than a week before the start of their campaign. The 34-year-old is not yet in the country and will not be available to take on the Phoenix at RAC Arena on Saturday night.

It comes as emerging guard Jaron Rillie remains sidelined as he closes in on a return from hamstring surgery, testing Perth’s backcourt depth.

Elijah Pepper, off-season signing Anthony Dell’Orso and nominated replacement player Jimmy Whitt figure as the likely Wildcats to be tasked with some extra ball-handling responsibility against the Phoenix, who play the league’s highest-pressure defensive scheme under coach Josh King.

Rillie said the pre-season had given his side good practice in getting into their offence without a designated point guard.

“We’ll just lean into players’ strengths,” Rillie said.

“Everyone is going to have that responsibility, it won’t just be one or two guys.

“We’re not having a point guard, we’re going to have to move on from that fact . . . it’s the players’ responsibility to make the right decisions, play with poise, not get caught up in their frenetic pace. That’s on every individual.

“Just with where our roster is, everyone has had good opportunity in the pre-season, and then without Brandon and Jaron, there’s going to be opportunity all over the floor.

“We’ll be able to change up the style, the momentum, with some of the additions we’ve made in the off-season.”

Whitt’s status as a nominated replacement player means he is only eligible to play when one of Perth’s other three imports — Kristian Doolittle, Dylan Windler and Knight — are unavailable.

Rillie used Todd Withers, the Wildcats’ NRP in the 2024-25 season, as an example of how the NBL1 star could have an impact at the next level.

“It was disappointing that he had to miss pre-season with an injury, but the last 10 days, he’s been really good in practice,” Rillie said of Whitt.

“He’ll bring a different dynamic — he’s athletic, he’s slashing, where the other guys you talk about, they’re more perimeter-oriented.”

Asked when he was expecting Knight to suit up in Wildcats colours for the first time, Rillie initially replied: “NBL27”.

“He’s got his paperwork to go through, he’s got his family that he has to consider, he’s got two young kids, so he’s getting all of that organised,” he said.

“However long that takes, it’s in the government’s hands.”