MVP Preview: Who Will Be Crowned NBL's Best?

The MVP. If you can’t win a championship then this is the award you want.

The biggest legends of Australian basketball are enshrined in a special club when they win the MVP award. Whether it’s a bright but fleeting spark like Jalen Adams who graced the competition for just one season, or a genuine icon of Australian basketball like Andrews Gaze or Bogut, the MVP is a who’s who of the best players to ever ply their trade in Australia.

Two of the three nominees this season are Boomers eligible players – which speaks volumes of the quality of not only the youth basketball programs across the country, but the development pathways within the league itself. And, who knows, maybe Bryce Cotton could even join them in green and gold one day.

NBL Media runs through the history of the award, and why each nominee can take home the trophy.

Watch the NBL MVP Awards, presented by Hungry Jack’s, live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel from 8:30pm AEDT on Tuesday, February 7.

Last five winners:

NBL22: Jalen Adams (Sydney Kings)
NBL21: Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)
NBL20: Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)
NBL19: Andrew Bogut (Sydney Kings)
NBL18: Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)

Multiple winners:

Andrew Gaze – 7
Leroy Loggins, Bryce Cotton – 3
Scott Fisher, Robert Rose, Chris Anstey, Kevin Lisch – 2

Andrew Gaze won seven career NBL MVP's, including five straight from 1994 to 1998. The award has since been named after the Melbourne Tigers legend.

The nominees:

Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings), Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats), Mitch Creek (South East Melbourne Phoenix

Xavier Cooks – His credentials

The stats: 16.3PPG, 60FG%, 8.0REB, 4.4 AST, 0.6BLK, 0.6STL

Why he wins: It’s been almost impossible to mention Xavier Cooks without whispering ‘MVP’ afterwards this season.

Cooks has been the consensus number one contender for the award for most of the season, and while different competitors have risen and fallen over the season Cooks has been the main constant in the MVP discussion.

Last season’s Grand Final MVP, Cooks has played a key role on the best team in the competition. The Kings locked in top spot on the ladder before the final round had even begun, and his contributions to the side were a massive part of their near dominance over the regular season.

If team performances are seen as a massive factor in the MVP award this year, Cooks will be hard to stop.

Why he doesn’t: It may sound like a bit of a catch-22, but the fact Sydney has been so dominant this season could be why Cooks doesn’t walk away with the award.

The Kings have been so consistent this season, as has Cooks. They’ve cruised along the top of the ladder while the Phoenix and Wildcats have been deployed in weekly dogfights that have forced Creek and Cotton to put together game-winning performances and highlight plays.

There’s no disputing Cooks has been a major part of Sydney’s dominance, but would the Kings losing him be as big a loss as if the Phoenix or Wildcats lost their contenders?

The experts say: “I think he has been the most impactful player this season. When he’s on his game there’s no stopping the Kings, and I think he poses the biggest matchup problem in the competition when he’s healthy, full of confidence and going. The fact his team is number one in the league is probably one of the biggest reasons why he could be MVP.” – 1990 NBL MVP and Scoring Champion Derek Rucker.

“I think the way the whole team has performed this year, they’ve been unshakable at the top of the ladder and he’s been the major part of that. He contributes so much and his all-around game, I think, is the best in the league as far as scoring, rebounding, assists, everything. His contribution is I think by far superior to everyone else.” – 3x NBL Champion and 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher.

Xavier Cooks has been the frontrunner for the MVP award for much of NBL23

Bryce Cotton – His credentials:

The stats: 23.9PPG, 42FG%, 3.5REB, 4.2AST, 1.4STL

Why he wins: The fact that one of his competitors for this season’s MVP award – Mitch Creek – recently labelled Cotton as “the forever MVP” says all you need to know about the King’s contributions this season.

If he doesn’t take out his fourth MVP award this season – which would move him clear of Leroy Loggins and behind only Andrew Gaze in the wins category – Cotton will be able to comfort himself with his sixth career scoring title.

While the Wildcats have been streaky at best this season, Cotton has pulled the sixth-placed team into winning positions off his own bat, and has been able to contribute for over 38 minutes a game in recent do-or-die clashes.

Although he’s had different players help him on the offensive end so far this season, Cotton has been the one constant, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to suggest that if the Wildcats didn’t have their star guard they’d have been out of the hunt for finals a while ago, rather than hunting a top four position.

Why he doesn’t: The Wildcats have historically prided themselves on their defensive ability. A reputation that has only been elevated by the existence of former captain and six time Defensive Player of the Year winner Damian Martin. That’s not been the case in NBL23.

Cotton doesn’t quite possess the all-around game that Creek and Cooks do, and on the defensive end – while you can’t deny he always gives everything for the cause – he can often leak easy buckets or be the target of easy switches for opposing bigs.

The Wildcats may be competing for top four as it stands, but they’ve had an interesting season. The fact Cotton has had to pull this side up by its bootstraps to likely overachievement could help his case for his fourth career MVP, or it could hinder it.

The experts say: “Bryce is the most exciting player in the competition, and at the same time he’s one of the most reliable and clutch. I think what we’ve seen that over the past six weeks is the real guy. What he’s done has been devastating for his opponents because he’s just been on a tear, and that was climaxed by that 40-point game. He’s made a real late run at it and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins it, because I think when you look at Perth’s roster he’s played a huge part in that team’s success -  probably a huger part this season than ever which sounds crazy.” – 1990 NBL MVP and Scoring Champion Derek Rucker.

“If you take him out of Perth then there’s a bigger hole than if you take Cooks out of Sydney or you take Creek out of South East Melbourne, and I think that’s a big judgment of the MVP award – if you’re not there how does your team perform? I think he’s the best finisher in the league and a prolific points scorer. I think the fact that he’d leave the biggest hole if he wasn’t present could be a big determining factor in the MVP.” – 3x NBL Champion and 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher.

Bryce Cotton looks primed to take home yet another NBL scoring title.

Mitch Creek – His credentials

The stats: 23.4PPG, 49.9FG%, 5REB, 2.1AST, 0.3BLK, 0.9STL

Why he wins: If you take Mitch Creek out of South East Melbourne, much like if you take Bryce Cotton out of Perth, they would be well and truly out of the race for finals – and that’s the true definition of an MVP isn’t it, the most valuable player on their side?

It’s no secret that the Phoenix have been hit by injuries this season, and hit hard. All of the team’s starting five have spent time on the sidelines this season – Creek included – but it’s been the absences in the guard rotation that has hit the side especially hard.

Even though he entered the season nursing a foot problem just about the one constant for South East Melbourne has been Creek. Whether it was putting the team on his back in the double-overtime victory over Sydney or putting local rivals Melbourne United to the sword, the Phoenix’s inaugural player has stood up and delivered when it counts.

He’s second in line for the league’s scoring title while, conversely, he was tasked with defending the deepest and most dangerous position in the NBL. Whether it be fellow candidate Xavier Cooks, or other All-NBL candidates like Robert Franks, DJ Hogg or Jarrell Brantley, Creek was there to body them up and restrict their impact.

Why he doesn’t: The Phoenix sit the lowest on the ladder out of any team that possesses an MVP candidate this season, and while Creek has been immense that will play on the mind of the powers at be.

They sit in sixth position and are still a mathematical chance of not making the playoffs, despite their star man’s heroics over the course of the season.

The experts say: “I think the advanced metrics would go in Mitch’s favour. He’s been amazingly consistent right throughout the season, and I’m not holding the fact his team isn’t in the top four against him because they’ve had injuries that have attributed to that. I think Mitch would be a very deserving MVP because he’s just an outstanding, well-balanced, two-way player who’s continued to improve his game and he has an impact in every game he plays.” – 1990 NBL MVP and Scoring Champion Derek Rucker.

“I think he offers his team everything. His effort off the court is amazing and on the court he does all those things as well, he’s a scorer, he’s a rebounder, he gives you assists, and he’s very consistent which I think is so important in this award, to be able to perform week in, week out, and I think he does that and sits on a similar level to Cooks in that category.” –  3x NBL Champion and 2x NBL Grand Final MVP Brett Maher.

Mitch Creek has put the Phoenix on his back in what has been an injury-blighted season for the club.