Winning cultures aren’t defined by words. They are driven by actions.

As the victorious Perth Wildcats players returned to their rooms from a post-grand final function in 2017, onlookers wouldn’t have recognised the men and women in work boots and high-vis vests who were pulling the basketball court apart and returning RAC Arena to its normal state. But that group included members of the club’s executive team.

When asked why they weren’t celebrating the club’s eighth NBL title, one replied “because today’s job isn’t done yet.” At the Wildcats, the administration staff all band together to help set up before games and pack up afterwards. Stronger As One is more than a motto.

Having won their ninth championship on Sunday while competing in their 33rd consecutive finals series, the Wildcats are the envy of other sporting organisations. CEO Troy Georgiu said one of the keys to success was having the players and staff all living by the same standards.

“We’re about no egos, hard work, having each other’s backs and always going with character first over skill,” he said.

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Camera Icon The Wildcats celebrate after winning the NBL Grand Final Series against Melbourne United. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images

That attitude was typified by an incident in America last year. The Wildcats played two NBA pre-season games in October and more than 30 fans joined them for the trip of a lifetime.

Two of those fans – Simeone Arena and Monica Scaramuzzi - were on the same flight home as the players. When a significantly delayed flight from Denver to Dallas threatened to see the group miss their flight back to Australia, airline staff asked passengers to let the “big men wearing red” get off the plane first.

Arena and Scaramuzzi were seated at the back, weren’t big and weren’t wearing red. But Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson spotted the pair and immediately told them to stick with the players to guarantee they made their connecting flight.

Assistant coach Adam Forde carried Scaramuzzi’s bags as everyone raced across the airport and the players held the airport monorail’s door to stop it from departing without them.

Captain Damian Martin then invited them to be his guests in the Qantas Lounge between flights in Sydney.

“That was unbelievable,” Arena said.

“I was only talking to people about how nice they were to us and what a great experience it was this week.”

Camera Icon PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18: Terrico White of the Wildcats poses for selfies with fans during a public reception after winning their ninth NBL championship at Forrest Place on March 18, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images

Fans matter to the Wildcats and that’s one reason why they have more than 11,000 members. When the NBL changed tip-off times this year to cater for the eastern states free-to-air TV viewers, the Wildcats relinquished free to air exposure to ensure family friendly starting times for their members.

It’s why the players celebrated with travelling fans in the grandstand at Melbourne Arena on Sunday and why they spent last night signing autographs and taking photos with the Red Army in the city.

It’s also why they go above and beyond to turn game day into a two hour entertainment extravaganza filled with dancers, a slam dunk team, flame throwers, smoke machines, giveaways, pyrotechnics, competitions, DJ and a brass band.

Game night preparation takes patience and cooperation. Less than two hours before their home semifinal against Brisbane, 17 dancers, a choreographer, three violinists, one tent, two cameramen, two technicians, a ladder, seven players and two coaches shared the court at the same time.

No egos. Everyone had a job to do and they all worked around each other.

Camera Icon Perth Wildcats staff Natalie Stawell Wilson, Ashlyn Pilgrim and Faith Sutherland with some of the Wildcats merchandice at RAC Arena. Credit: Mogens Johansen, The West Australian

“There’s 40 minutes of basketball but that’s only one element,” Wildcats Game Night Events Manager Faith Sutherland said.

“We want it to be a night out for everyone and a full event experience where you leave fully satisfied and don’t feel the need to then go out and be entertained by something else.”

The off-court focus also includes player contracts including community work. The club has 275 community engagements every year including school visits where the players focus on helping students to learn English and maths along with basketball.

Georgiu said a philosophy that the Wildcats belonged to all West Australians inspired players and staff to greater heights. He said the club wanted to repeatedly raise the bar on and off the court every season.

“We wouldn’t have it any the way because pressure to perform at an elite standard is what brings out the best in people. That is exciting,” he said.

PERTH WILDCATS 1982-2019