Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP - Round 8, NBL24

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Who will join Jerome Randle, Mitch Creek, Bryce Cotton, Scott Machado and Kai Sotto in the annals of NBL history?

The way you vote on the Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP award has changed. Now, NBL Media will present the top players of the round and you can make your votes count every week.

The nominees are determined by the top average SuperCoach NBL scorers from the round, and in the event of a tied average score, the player who played more games over the weekend will get the nod ahead of their counterpart.

Who will join Jerome Randle, Mitch Creek, Bryce Cotton, Scott Machado and Kai Sotto in the annals of NBL history? You decide.

Vote below, and check out each nominee's claim to earning your votes.

Can't see the voting form below? Click here to register your vote

Luke Travers – 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists | 53 SuperCoach points per game
Chris Goulding may be receiving most of the plaudits for Melbourne’s comeback win over Sydney on Sunday, but Luke Travers’ ability to get on the glass and hustle on both ends was absolutely crucial in pulling United back into the contest against the reigning champions.

Travers was at his brilliant best against the Kings and made an impact on every major stat. Only Chris Goulding scored more points in the win for Melbourne, while Travers led the team in rebounds, tied the leader for blocks, and was tied second for assists and steals.

All in his first game back in the lineup from concussion.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Run free, LT ?<br><br>Luke Travers and Melbourne United have come storming back into this game ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/F9fo1qsBjN">pic.twitter.com/F9fo1qsBjN</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1726124100219785230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chris Goulding – 35 points, 4 assists, 2 blocks | 51 SuperCoach points per game
Chris Goulding’s South East Melbourne rival Alan Williams described CG’s stellar performance perfectly while on commentary – 'he’s aging like a fine wine'.

Goulding finished just one made three short of his career-high of nine in one game, and was hitting nothing but net from basically the carpark in the second half.

He gave his side a rinse heading into halftime when Melbourne were 15 points down, and he came out and led by example to help his side to a historic win over the Kings.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">6?0?0?0? career NBL points for one of the all-time greats of Aussie hoops ?<br><br>Congratulations, CG43 ? <a href="https://t.co/TLOK3m2BwE">pic.twitter.com/TLOK3m2BwE</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1726114690164777377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Anthony Lamb – 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists | 45.5 SuperCoach points per game
New Zealand’s injury replacement import has been a star since coming into the side. The Breakers may be sitting on just three wins for the season so far, but the former Golden State Warrior can be basically absolved of any blame for their poor run.

He had 20 points in the first half of the win over Tassie, and although he slowed down his scoring in the second half he laid the groundwork for a drought-breaking victory for his side.

Then, the Breakers faced Illawarra in what eventuated as an absolute defensive grind, and he alone scored 20 of his team’s 65 points for the game, and his four assists made him directly responsible for almost half his team’s score.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Anthony Lamb just cannot miss ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10 Play | Sky Sports in NZ ? <a href="https://t.co/r3zccB2liN">pic.twitter.com/r3zccB2liN</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1726090414644474215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alan Williams - 23 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks | 45 SuperCoach points
South East Melbourne center Alan Williams keeps finding himself rooted to the pine for the final moments of Phoenix games due to consistent foul trouble, but Big Sauce isn’t failing to have an impact in his time on court at the moment.

The former Phoenix Sun added yet another double-double to his season tally in his side’s loss to Adelaide over 26 minutes, and added a pair of blocks of the defensive end too.

He, like most of his teammates, left some extra points at the line which eventually proved crucial in the comeback defeat, but Williams is consistently proving he’s one of the strongest talents the NBL has to offer this season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cooking with some special Sauce early. Alan Williams has six of SEM's first nine points ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/iUujlsjJQj">pic.twitter.com/iUujlsjJQj</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1725434727606218854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bryce Cotton – 25 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists | 39 SuperCoach points per game
Let’s just forget about how Bryce Cotton started the season. The three-time MVP and bona fide superstar is back to his best and has been so, so crucial to Perth’s fortunes during the Wildcats’ five-game winning run.

Cotton was named Foot Locker Player of the Game in each of Perth’s Round 8 wins – an eight-point win over Cairns and a three-point win over Brisbane.

He’s led the voting in the last two weeks of Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP polling – can he make it a hat-trick following another immense showing in a winning week for the Wildcats?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bryce Cotton filled the box score in the <a href="https://twitter.com/Perthwildcat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcat</a>'s fifth consecutive win ?<br><br>?? 25 points<br>?? 7 rebounds<br>?? 3 assists<br>?? 1 steal & 1 block <br><br>Cotton now sits third in the league for points per game ? <a href="https://t.co/3vwe90XM9T">pic.twitter.com/3vwe90XM9T</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1725839138279264718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Shea Ili – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists | 38 SuperCoach points per game
If there’s one player who flew under the radar this week, it’s Shea Ili. Chris Goulding’s 35 points and Luke Travers’ double-double in the win over Sydney has meant Ili’s incredible performance on both ends of the floor likely hasn’t received the praise it deserved.

Aside from limiting the impact of former MVP Jaylen Adams on the defensive end, Ili was dishing dime after dime in the second half as Melbourne inched their way back into the contest before exploding ahead.

He fell just one assist short of a double-double of his own, and added a pair of steals in what was a performance that is almost certain to elevate his already present name in the Best Defensive Player conversations.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is that the dagger? Melbourne has been immense in Q4, and CG43 has been leading the way ?<br><br>Catch the final moments live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/A7Khsb8UiB">pic.twitter.com/A7Khsb8UiB</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1726130370914001214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chris Smith – 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals | 38 SuperCoach points per game
Brisbane import scorer Chris Smith had already pulled together some solid performances this season, but was his shooting masterclass in Saturday’s overtime his welcome to the NBL game?

The Bullets fell late to Bryce Cotton and company, but Smith’s efforts in a low-scoring clash helped establish Brisbane as major contenders for the game despite the late fall-away.

He his 10 of his 15 shot attempts, but also grabbed two steals and a block to prove he’s more than just a scoreboard contributor.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/_ChrisCrosss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ChrisCrosss</a> was feeling it tonight: <br><br>?? 23 points (season-high)<br>?? 2 steals <br>?? 10-15 FG ?? <a href="https://t.co/05dV5zDRvM">pic.twitter.com/05dV5zDRvM</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1725846855953924268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Denzel Valentine – 19 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists | 37 SuperCoach points per game
Former Chicago Bull Denzel Valentine was on triple-double watch in the first half of Sydney’s clash against Melbourne, and although his rebound and assist numbers slowed down in the second half, he offered a stark reminder of just how important he can be to the Kings when Jaylen Adams is being stifled.

Valentine took control of proceedings in the first half and pulled off some frankly incredible passes to push his side into a strong half-time position, but Melbourne’s defence lifted in the second half to prevent him from pushing the pace as effectively as he did in the opening two quarters.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">????? ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/denzelvalentine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@denzelvalentine</a> ?<br><br>Our guy has 5? assists at the half - check out the best of his pretty passes below!<br><br>Watch our clash with <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelbUnited</a> now via <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/10PeachAu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@10PeachAu</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/10PlaySport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@10PlaySport</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetItReign?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetItReign</a> <a href="https://t.co/3YHKZUvPVD">pic.twitter.com/3YHKZUvPVD</a></p>— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings/status/1726118889325752452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>