“I’m a killer”: Davis declares MVP intentions

As Bryce Cotton secured his fifth MVP, Kendric Davis was left watching - his historic debut season falling just short of the league’s top honour.

“I think I win MVP last year if our team does better,” he said on NBL Now.

“I think I win it because ... I was second in scoring, first in assists ... only thing I wasn’t first in was the win column.

“I know most important what comes first is winning and that’s the main goal.”

Davis put together one of the best debut seasons statistically that the league has seen in some time, averaging almost 26 points and a league-best eight assists. But it wasn’t enough to put him over the top of Cotton’s incredible year.

With Cotton returning to the league, this time for Davis’ former team, it’s round two of this head-to-head battle and the Kings’ guard couldn’t be more ready.

“I’m super excited,” he said about Cotton signing back in the NBL.

“I respect everything that he’s done, but like I said last year, to be the best you have to go through the best and I wouldn’t want it any other way."

Cotton’s résumé stands clear as one of the best the league has ever seen, including his MVPs, eight scoring titles, eight All-NBL First Team selections, three championships and much more.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way. Bryce is 32? He’ll be 33 when season starts? And I’m 26 now.

“So I’m looking at it like Anthony Edwards and LeBron. Ant had to go through LeBron this year. He had to go through KD last year, so that’s how I look at it.

“I respect greatness, but I have to take another step in order to catch him.”

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The mutual respect between the league’s top two players has grown throughout the course of last season, with both being vocal about bringing out the best in each other when they battle it out.

“I love it,” Davis added.

“If you haven’t met a true competitor with that Kobe Bryant mindset, that’s me. I’m a killer.

“Me and Penny (Hardaway) always say, ‘Never met a killer like you.’”

While both stars will be in new jerseys this year, their historic battles will continue to add a new chapter to an incredible story that’s being written.

For Davis, while the focus is always on being the best he can be, it’s about winning first and foremost.

“If we win and I average 10 points a game but my impact is better than what he (Cotton) did, ima get it (MVP),” he said.

“Me and Delly talked about it. Delly said, ‘I want you to be the best player in the league.’

“That’s my goal, but we need to win a championship. So I’m grinding to be the best player in the league and bring that banner back to Sydney and hopefully get back to the NBA.”