THE NATIONAL Basketball League (NBL)’s best performers have been recognised with the competition announcing the finalists for the individual awards for season 2024/25.
Headlining the action is the Andrew Gaze Trophy for the competition’s Most Valuable Player, with star point guard Bryce Cotton the likely recipient of the highest honour. The import is gunning for a fifth MVP award, and looks deserving of doing so, posting averages of 27.7 points (league-high), 3.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists, and showcased his ceiling with a 59-point outing that made waves around the competition.
His biggest rival for this award is Kendric Davis, who has been a revelation for the Adelaide 36ers and would be a shoe-in for the award if not for Cotton. He has been orchestrating Adelaide’s offence to perfection, posting averages of 25.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and eight assists per game, but going against him is the fact that the Wildcats sit third on the ladder, three spots ahead of the Sixers.
One of the most exciting awards every year is the Next Generation Award, which goes to the best young talent in the competition. The current favourite would be Alex Toohey, who has boosted his NBA draft stock with a stellar campaign for the Sydney Kings. The forward is averaging 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, and has an incredibly deep skillset.
Nominees
Andrew Gaze Trophy for Most Valuable Player
Bryce Cotton (Perth)
Chris Goulding (Melbourne)
Casey Prather (Brisbane)
Jaylen Adams (Sydney)
Kendric Davis (Adelaide)
Montrezl Harrell (Adelaide)
Matt Hurt (South East Melbourne)
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand)
Sam Froling (Illawarra)
Tyler Harvey (Illawarra)
Trey Kell III (Illawarra)
Xavier Cooks (Sydney)
Most Improved Player
Ben Henshall (Perth)
Kouat Noi (Sydney)
Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne)
Sam Waardenburg (Cairns)
Taran Armstrong (Cairns)
Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane)
Will Hickey (Illawarra)
Best Sixth Man
Cam Oliver (Sydney)
Ian Clark (Melbourne)
Kouat Noi (Sydney)
Marcus Lee (Melbourne)
Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne)
Will Hickey (Illawarra)
Damian Martin Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year
Matthew Dellavedova (Melbourne)
Marcus Lee (Melbourne)
Mitch Norton (Brisbane)
Shea Ili (Melbourne)
Will Magnay (Tasmania)
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Illawarra)
Xavier Cooks (Sydney)
Next Generation Award
Alex Toohey (Sydney)
Ben Henshall (Perth)
Izan Almansa (Perth)
Karim Lopez (New Zealand)
Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra)
Malique Lewis (South East Melbourne)
Taran Armstrong (Cairns)
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Illawarra)
Finalists announced for NBL awards
THE NATIONAL Basketball League (NBL)’s best performers have been recognised with the competition announcing the finalists for the individual awards for season 2024/25. Headlining the action is the Andrew Gaze Trophy for the competition’s Most Valuable Player, with star point guard Bryce Cotton the likely recipient of the highest honour. The import is gunning for […]
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