Cotton wins 5th MVP

Perth Wildcats superstar Bryce Cotton continues to re-write the history books, winning his 5th Andrew Gaze Trophy as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2024/25 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season. 

Cotton’s five MVP’s are the second-most by an individual, with only Gaze ahead of him with seven. It is also the second time in Cotton’s career that he has won consecutive MVP awards, a feat only matched by Gaze.  

Cotton has now won the MVP in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025. 

Cotton polled 119 votes, beating Adelaide’s Kendric Davis (82 votes) and South East Melbourne’s Matt Hurt (65 votes). 

Averaging a career-high 28.6 points, Cotton’s scoring outbursts left the NBL world in awe this season. He scored 40+ points six times throughout the campaign, becoming the first player to do so since Gaze in 1993.  

Cotton’s Wildcats begin their quest for an 11th championship tomorrow night against the Phoenix in the Seeding Qualifier. He was also voted the Fans’ MVP, presented by Chemist Warehouse, for the fourth time. 

After leading his Illawarra Hawks to their first top of the ladder finish in club history, Justin Tatum won the Lindsay Gaze Trophy for Coach of the Year. 

Tatum’s Hawks were the benchmark all season long, as the coach instilled an almighty belief into his players. Illawarra’s focus now shifts to trying to win its first title since 2001. 

Hawks superstar duo Tyler Harvey and Trey Kell III headline the All-NBL First Team, alongside MVP Finalists Cotton, Davis and Hurt.  

A star-studded All-NBL 2nd Team features Melbourne’s Chris Goulding, Adelaide’s Montrezl Harrell, Brisbane’s Casey Prather, Illawarra’s Sam Froling and Sydney’s Xavier Cooks.

The Kings had a night to remember, with Kouat Noi winning the Best Sixth Man, Next Star Alex Toohey taking home the Next Generation Award presented by Champion, and Tyler Robertson securing the Three-Pointer of the Year presented by Mitsubishi Motors Australia.  

The Bullets also had multiple award winners, with Tyrell Harrison’s emergence earning him the Most Improved Player presented by AAMI and CEO Malcolm Watts winning Executive of the Year.  

Shea Ili’s incredible defensive efforts were recognised as the United star won the Damian Martin Trophy for the Best Defensive Player for the second straight season.  

Vaughan Mayberry won Referee of the Year presented by Europcar for the fourth consecutive season and Tasmania’s Majok Deng’s efforts in the community were honoured with the Gametime by Kmart award. 

Final votes for the awards were:

Andrew Gaze Trophy for Most Valuable Player – presented by Hungry Jack’s
Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)  - 119 votes
Kendric Davis (Adelaide 36ers) - 82 votes
Matt Hurt (South East Melbourne Phoenix) 65 votes

Lindsay Gaze Trophy for Coach of the Year
Justin Tatum (Illawarra Hawks)  - 78 votes
Josh King (South East Melbourne Phoenix) – 39 votes
Dean Vickerman (Melbourne United)  - 29 votes

Most Improved Player presented by AAMI
Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane Bullets)  - 37 votes
Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne Phoenix)  - 32 votes
Ben Henshall (Perth Wildcats)  - 30 votes

Best Sixth Man
Kouat Noi (Sydney Kings)  - 69 votes
Ian Clark (Melbourne United)  - 39 votes
Will Hickey (Illawarra Hawks)  37 votes

Damian Martin Trophy for the Best Defensive Player
Shea Ili (Melbourne United)  - 63 votes
Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Illawarra Hawks)  - 34 votes
Will Magnay (Tasmania JackJumpers)  26 votes

Next Generation Award presented by Champion
Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings)  - 46 votes
Ben Henshall (Perth Wildcats)  - 40 votes
Taran Armstrong (Cairns Taipans)  - 38 votes

All-NBL First Team
Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats) – 54 votes
Kendric Davis (Adelaide 36ers)  - 52 votes
Matt Hurt (South East Melbourne Phoenix)  - 53 votes
Trey Kell III (Illawarra Hawks)  47 votes
Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks)  - 38 votes

All-NBL Second Team
Casey Prather (Brisbane Bullets)  - 37 votes
Chris Goulding (Melbourne United)  - 36 votes
Montrezl Harrell (Adelaide 36ers)  - 28 votes
Sam Froling (Illawarra Hawks)  - 19 votes
Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) – 26 votes

Referee of the Year presented by Europcar
Vaughan Mayberry

Gametime by Kmart Award
Majok Deng (Tasmania JackJumpers) 

Executive of the Year
Malcolm Watts (Brisbane Bullets CEO) 

Fans’ MVP presented by Chemist Warehouse
Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats)

Three-Pointer of the Year presented by Mitsubishi Motors Australia
Tyler Robertson (Sydney Kings)