Is Mitch Creek an MVP Chance?

Mitch Creek, NBL MVP candidate? It’s a conversation that’s ebbed and flowed ever since he’s come back into the NBL – and once again he’s statistically amongst the top performers in the NBL. So why aren’t people talking about him more?

So far this season most of the MVP conversation has formed around Xavier Cooks, Keanu Pinder and more recently Robert Franks. Creeks’ name has been suspiciously absent from most round-table discussions.

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Speaking on NBL Today, Peter Hooley believes he understands the reason.

“Probably the reason we don’t talk enough about him is he doesn’t do anything special,” Hooley said.

“He just goes about his business. He gets his rebounds, he gets assists, he gets rebounds, he defends.

“He’s number two right now with the way he’s playing.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In game 3??0??0?? ... CREEKY JAMMED IT ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live and free on 10 Peach and 10play | live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/qKiUBAmZID">pic.twitter.com/qKiUBAmZID</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1596753787561000960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Creek once again top-scored for South East Melbourne on the weekend, dropping 27 points as his side absolutely annihilated the cellar-dwelling Hawks.

On top of his strong scoring performance he also racked up six boards and three assists – and he shot a more than respectable 69 per cent from the field.

Hooley says if Creek wants to seriously push his name forward for the competition’s highest individual honour, he needs to keep the Phoenix on track for a playoff berth.

“The Phoenix always seem to go through these patches where they struggle, and when the team struggles you can’t really look at him as an MVP,” Hooley said.

“Remember what happened last season when the Phoenix kind of fell into a hole? His terrific season went to nothing.

“They had a bit of a rough patch to start the season then went on that win streak, and now they’re trying to get back to their best basketball.

“If they want to win a title Mitch Creek has to be the MVP.”