Awards Watch: A mid-season look

It's hard to believe we're already at the halfway point of the Hungry Jack's NBL25 Season, but already there's been standouts, stars, surprise packets and a look at the next generation of MVP candidates.

It's time to take a look at those in the mix for all the key awards.

Check out Pete Hooley's take on the first nine rounds of NBL action.

MVP

Through nine rounds it’s been Parker Jackson-Cartwright who has been a clear standout in terms of both statistics and leading his team to second place on the ladder. He dropped out of the top five in scoring with a rough shooting game against Cairns, albeit he contributed heavily in other areas to get a big road win for his team. Jackson-Cartwright has been borderline unstoppable throughout the first half of the season and is the major reason behind the Breakers' success thus far.

With the suspensions announced for Adelaide’s dynamic duo of Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell, they won’t miss enough games to have an impact on their MVP campaigns. Both have been superb in the first half of the season, putting up MVP-type numbers along with big individual performances to secure wins for their team. If they continue that form when they return from suspension, the only way one of them may not win MVP is if it becomes hard to split the votes between them.

I said in the previous early edition of this how Matt Hurt was unlucky to not be in the mix due to his team being winless at the time. That’s completely changed in the last month, with the Phoenix starting to pile on the wins and Hurt continuing his stellar season. 

The interesting one for MVP purposes is the play of Jack White. He’s arguably been the most consistent and damaging United player across the first nine rounds, which says a lot for a team with Chris Goulding on it. He’s had eight games of double-digit rebounds, including a 19-rebound performance and has stepped up in the clutch on both ends numerous times. Can he win an MVP averaging less than 14 points? No, probably not. But if he boosts that average up around 17 and continues producing in the other areas, then we will be having a very different conversation.

In the mix
Parker Jackson-Cartwright
Kendric Davis
Montrezl Harrell
Matt Hurt
Xavier Cooks
Jack White

Matt Hurt.

Most Improved Player

One interesting note about this award in particular this season is that the winner may not have the biggest statistical jump that we are used to. Rather, the current crop of players who are in the mix to win the Most Improved Player, have significantly increased their contribution to winning for their respective teams.

For example, Will Hickey has become a major piece to Illawarra’s puzzle this season. While his statistics have taken a leap forward, especially in the games he started in place of the injured Trey Kell III, he’s been arguably the most important player for Justin Tatum thus far. While he has shown he is capable of scoring when needed, it’s his defensive intensity and energy on the glass that sets him apart from anyone else on his team. 

Similarly, Sam Mennenga is another one who has relished in the added opportunity for his new team. The New Zealand native was thrown into the starting lineup in Round 1 and has had some monster performances to help lead his team to a top two position by the break.

Other young stars like Ben Henshall, have all shown patches this season as to why they can be considered candidates for this award, but will likely need the consistent opportunity to win it. Same can be said with Taran Armstrong and Mojave King, who statistically have seen the biggest improvement from year-to-year, but need to play more games.

In the mix
Sam Mennenga
Will Hickey
Ben Henshall
Taran Armstrong
Mojave King
Sam Waardenburg

Will Hickey.

Sixth Man of the Year

This is another award that is tricky at this point in the season, due to many players who are in the mix having started at least a few times in the first nine rounds. The exception here is Cam Oliver, who has been putting together a very productive season off the bench for Sydney. The big man is averaging just under 13 points and 7 rebounds per game in his fluctuating game time, but has had some monstrous performances in the first part of the season.

Will Hickey has again been outstanding for the Hawks off the bench and continues to show how important he is to their success. It’s the intangibles he brings that makes him so valuable to the third placed team. 

Probably the biggest watch in this space is the role of James Batemon going forward. Does the 51-point record holder eventually find his way into the starting lineup? Or is he more comfortable in his current spot off the bench. 

Lastly, Melbourne United could have numerous contenders for this award if they settle on a lineup that they’re going to use consistently.

In the mix
Cam Oliver 
Will Hickey
James Batemon
Mojave King
Angus Glover

Cam Oliver.

Best Defensive Player

The Damian Martin Award looks like it’s heading down a path that we have seen many times before, when Shea Ili, Bul Kuol and Will Magnay are the major contenders. All three are well established as some of the best defenders in the league, and have once again had stellar individual seasons on that end of the floor. 

They are also three players whose impact defensively goes far beyond a numbers perspective, as they all influence a game in such a prolific way that it makes it hard to rank them when it comes to votes.

Two new names so far this season who have entered the conversation are Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk and Mitch Norton. The Hawks' premier defender began the season with a point to prove and was dominating his individual matchups for the first seven rounds of the year. While his form has tapered off slightly, he is still producing an outstanding individual season. Norton on the other hand, was thrown into the starting lineup in Brisbane and delivering the way he has his entire career. It was highlighted by his exceptional display against four-time MVP, Bryce Cotton in Round 9.

In the mix
Shea Ili
Bul Kuol
Will Magnay
Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk
Mitch Norton

Bul Kuol.

Champion Next Generation Award

This has become one of the more exciting awards to keep track of throughout the season, due to the number of players eligible to win it. A reminder that any player, as long as they are under 25-years-old by April 30 of the conclusion of the season, will be eligible. 

This year, we're highlighting the players in the mix for the award in a separate piece, in the days after the Awards Watch drops. Keep an eye on our channels for this one.

Ben Henshall.

Coach of the Year

If the season were to end right now, it’s likely that Dean Vickerman would be taking home another Coach of the Year Award, and it would be well deserved. Melbourne United have been firing on all cylinders and it’s even more impressive when you consider the impact of players coming in and out with injury. If it wasn’t for the game against the Breakers where they got blown out, their defensive rating was on record pace.

Vickerman wouldn’t necessarily be a runaway winner in this, though, with Petteri Koponen right on his heels. The first-year head coach has been a revelation in New Zealand through nine rounds and has his team in a prime position to strike for the remainder of the season. What makes it even more impressive is the fact that he’s had to endure the toughest travel schedule of any other team to this point of the season. 

In the mix
Dean Vickerman
Petteri Koponen
Justin Tatum
Mike Wells

Dean Vickerman.