Every Club's MVP Winner

With the Finals well underway and the Gazeys done and dusted, teams are beginning to name and honour the top contributors to their club's season with their own MVP awards.

NBL Media keeps you in the loop with the award winners as they're announced.

The shelves of Antonius Cleveland’s trophy case must be beginning to groan. After earning back-to-back Damian Martin Defensive Player of the Year honours, he’s marked the culmination of his first season in Adelaide by winning the club’s MVP award.

Named after three-time champion and 1987 NBL MVP Mark Davis, Cleveland earned the honour alongside the Defensive Player of the Year and Fans MVP honours to almost sweep the club’s awards night.

After arriving on the NBL scene as a member of the Illawarra Hawks in NBL22, Cleveland took his trademark defensive nous across to Adelaide this season, and while his defence was still the most integral part of his game it was his offence that stood out this season.

He averaged 15.8 points per game on 48.7 per cent shooting along with 2.8 assists – all marked increases from his first season in the competition.

Anthony Drmic took home the Coaches Award, while Nick Marshall was named as Most Improved.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Star. <a href="https://twitter.com/ac_uno1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ac_uno1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreSixers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreSixers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SwoopTheHoop?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SwoopTheHoop</a> <a href="https://t.co/O5vPHYb60s">pic.twitter.com/O5vPHYb60s</a></p>&mdash; Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1624239830124363778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The strong individual campaign of Boomer Nathan Sobey has been capped off by winning the Brisbane Bullets’ MVP award – named after three-time champion and three-time NBL MVP Leroy Loggins.

Sobey returned to the court in NBL23 following an extensive stint on the sidelines following a knee injury suffered the season prior – where he only played 12 games for an ailing Bullets.

He rebounded to play all 28 games for the side this season and, after a justifiably rusty start in the first few games, returned to the level of form that saw him named as an Andrew Gaze MVP finalist in NBL21.

He averaged 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game across the season.

Import guard Tyler Johnson took home the Fans' Player and Player’s Player of the Year, Aron Baynes won Defensive Player of the Year and Matt Johns won Youth Player of the Year.

The team effort required to pull the Cairns Taipans from ninth to a Playoff appearance was recognised on their club awards nights, as the major honours were shared among the roster.

DJ Hogg took out the MVP award for his performances on both ends of the floor. While putting up a team-best 18.1 points per game this season, Hogg also pulled down 5.6 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks across the season.

Hogg also took home the Members' MVP.

Shannon Scott was named as Player's Player of the Year, Tahjere McCall was named as Defensive Player of the Year, and Ben Ayre took home the Coaches Award in his first season as a fully contracted player.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A complete player, our M.V.P. ?<br><br>In his first year in the NBL, DJ led the Taipans in scoring at 18.1 points per game, to go with 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals ? <a href="https://t.co/Sd9ccK0z8p">pic.twitter.com/Sd9ccK0z8p</a></p>&mdash; Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans/status/1631627340949385217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The performances of co-captain and NBL Next Generation Award nominee Sam Froling was a bright spark in a difficult season for the Illawarra Hawks, and the 23-year-old Boomers centre once again lifted his game to take home the club’s MVP award.

Froling – who also won the NBL’s Most Improved Player Award in NBL21 – averaged a career-high 14 points per game at 49.7 per cent from the field, along with 1.6 assists and 6.8 rebounds per contest.

Akoldah Gak took home Player’s Player of the Year, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk won Defensive Player of the Year, and Tyler Harvey was named the Members' Choice Award winner.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Coep4RLvHJv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Coep4RLvHJv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Coep4RLvHJv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

400 games played, 1000 threes hit, and still the MVP of his team. The more things change, the more they stay the same for Chris Goulding.

After finishing the season with the most made threes of anyone in the competition, the three-time NBL champion added a third All-NBL Second Team nomination to his resume.

He missed just one game during the season, and posted his best scoring numbers since NBL20. He ended the season averaging 17/1 points per game on 42.9 per cent shooting, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

Mid-season signing Marcus Lee took home the club’s Defensive Player of the Year honours while Callum Dalton took out the SHARE Award for exemplifying United's values on the court and in practice.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MVP ?<br><br>Players &amp; staff have been recognised for their hard work and dedication to the club at our awards evening on Friday.<br><br>Club captain <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisGoulding43?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisGoulding43</a> took home the MVP award for a spectacular season, putting up his best scoring numbers since the 2019-20 season. <a href="https://t.co/dFsNVmv1mr">pic.twitter.com/dFsNVmv1mr</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1624208261347180545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jarrell Brantley claimed the Breakers' MVP at the team's award night on Tuesday, February 28.

Brantley was a standout in his first season in the NBL, averaging 16.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals a game.

Teammate Dererk Pardon claimed the Defensive Player of the Year for New Zealand. while Barry Brown was the winner of the Members' Choice Award. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">MVP!! ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNBREAKABLE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNBREAKABLE</a> <a href="https://t.co/nhhEYA17nZ">pic.twitter.com/nhhEYA17nZ</a></p>&mdash; Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/NZBreakers/status/1630476676823126018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For the fifth time in his seven seasons with the club, superstar Bryce Cotton has been awarded the Gordon Ellis Medal for Perth Wildcats Most Valuable Player at the club’s annual MVP Ball.

Cotton had an outstanding 2022/23 season, achieving career-highs in regular season points, rebounds, assists and steals. He managed seven 30+ point games and was named Scoring Champion for the fifth-straight season.

The three-time NBL MVP was a dominant force in the league, averaging 23.4 points per game in his second highest scoring regular season of his seven in the competition, draining 80 three-pointers in the process.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MVP things. ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WildcatsMVP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WildcatsMVP</a> <a href="https://t.co/3Q1LZm83k8">pic.twitter.com/3Q1LZm83k8</a></p>&mdash; Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1642179901779513344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mitch Creek took home the ultimate honours for the Phoenix, following another outstanding individual season.

Creek boasted averages of 23.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists across NBL23 to claim South East Melbourne's most coveted award.

"A club MVP is pretty cool; I know since I've been here, it's been a few years in a row now, but I think I am just excited for where this club has grown from and where it is now," he said. 

"I think we are getting better every year, I think the league is getting better every year, and I think we are staying with it. I feel like this is very nice, but at the end of the day, it is an individual award, and I am here for team success.

"I'll put a lot of time and effort into watching a lot of the games, looking where I could improve, areas we can improve as a team. I'll take the individual season and build on that, clean up the gap between my best and worst and try to shorten that even more and hopefully a bigger and better season next year."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">??? ???! ?<br><br>After a career-best season, Mitch Creek is named Phoenix’s MVP for NBL23 ?<br><br>Read More ?? <a href="https://t.co/z4C4T8yRXU">https://t.co/z4C4T8yRXU</a> <a href="https://t.co/nsmIm5Ca0E">pic.twitter.com/nsmIm5Ca0E</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1626476586064289793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Xavier Cooks has doubled up on MVP awards this season. After claiming the Andrew Gaze MVP trophy as the best player in the NBL, he has now added the Kings' MVP trophy to his cabinet.

His season averages of over 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists helped Cooks just about sweep every award possible during Sydney's celebration of it's season. He also took home the Members Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards.

Former NBL Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon marked his return to the competition by winning Sydney's DPOY honours. Import centre Tim Soares took home the Coaches Award, while former Cairns Taipan Kouat Noi was awarded the Hard Work Award for his efforts both on an off the court. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The moment we have all been waiting for...<br><br>The Sydney Kings MVP award recipient is awarded to Xavier Cooks??<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheKings</a> <a href="https://t.co/BUVtis2cax">pic.twitter.com/BUVtis2cax</a></p>&mdash; Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings/status/1627966927367770113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Star import Milton Doyle has been awarded the Tasmania JackJumpers 2022/23 Most Valuable Player.

The award is the latest in a string of accolades for the smooth-moving Shooting Guard, who earlier this month became the first JackJumpers Player to be named in the All-NBL First Team.

Doyle boasted averages of 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists throughout NBL23. 

Development Player Isaac White was voted by his peers to receive the ‘Players Award’, after joining the club as an injury replacement player and fully embracing the club’s values,basketball program and community.

‘Defensive Player of the Year’ was awarded to Will Magnay, who returned to his best after a 10-month battle with a knee injury, while the ‘Coaches Award’ was awarded to Development Player Sean Macdonald who was also a finalist in the NBL’s Most Improved Awards with a breakout NBL23 campaign.

Jack McVeigh was voted as the ‘Fan Favourite’ by the Ant Army via an online poll.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 2022/23 Tasmania JackJumpers Most Valuable Player is Milton Doyle <a href="https://t.co/FhWetOo8by">pic.twitter.com/FhWetOo8by</a></p>&mdash; Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1629434065744187392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>