MVP Preview: Which Young Gun Rises Above?

The NBL Rookie of the Year Award is no more - and for the first time since 1983 a different award will take its place.

Any player who is under the age of 25 by season's end is eligible for the new-look NBL Next Generation Award. This change was made to widen the pool of eligible players in any given year - and this season's pool of nominees represents the exact reason the change was made.

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 and Foxtel from 8.30pm AEDT on Tuesday, February 7. 

Last five winners (Rookie of the Year):

NBL22 – Bul Kuol (Cairns Taipans)
NBL21 – Josh Giddey (Adelaide 36ers)
NBL20 – LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks)
NBL19 – Harry Froling (Adelaide 36ers)
NBL18 – Isaac Humphries (Sydney Kings)

LaMelo Ball won the 2019/20 Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7 assists for Illawarra.

The nominees

Sam Froling (Illawarra Hawks), Luke Travers (Perth Wildcats), Sam Waardenburg (Cairns Taipans)

Sam Froling – His credentials

The stats: 14PPG, 49.5FG%, 8.1REB, 2.3AST

Why he wins: Sam Froling has been a shining light in a disappointing season for the Illawarra Hawks.

At just 22 years old he was elevated to the post of co-captain alongside established import talent Tyler Harvey in the pre-season and has not only taken on the added responsibility leadership inevitably brings – but he’s thrived.

The league’s Most Improved Player in NBL21, Froling could consider himself unlucky to not be in the running for that award too given how much more impactful he's been on the offensive end this season compared to NBL22.

Despite the massive level of responsibility on the fourth-year player, when Froling has played well, the Hawks have played well – and they’ve often lived or died by his influence in the key across NBL23

Why he doesn’t: Quite simply, his team’s performances. For all the fight, heart and desire the Hawks have shown this season, there’s no escaping the fact that Illawarra has won just one of three of its 26 games for the season.

There have been a strong handful of games where Froling has failed to impact proceedings this season too. Plenty of it has to do with the overall offensive struggles of the Hawks at various times throughout the campaign – but it’s tough to lay claim to a major individual award when your side sits so far adrift at the bottom of the table.

The expert says: "Playing a featured role on a struggling team, Froling has once again proven to be one the league’s brightest young stars. The 22-year-old is one of only four players this season to average at least 14 points and eight boards per game, joining All-NBL contenders Keanu Pinder, Alan Williams and Xavier Cooks in that exclusive group. It has largely been a year to forget in the ‘Gong, but Froling’s continued growth has been a definite bright spot among a group that has never stopped fighting.” – Next Stars Recruitment General Manager and NBL analyst Liam Santamaria.

Sam Froling plays for the Hawks in Round 16 of the NBL23 season

Luke Travers – His credentials

The stats – 9.6PPG, 50.9FG%, 4.2REB, 1.8AST

Why he wins: After he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 56^th selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, Luke Travers has had more eyes on him than ever before.

The fourth-year player flitted between starting and bench roles, but he seems to have truly come into his own as the sixth man in John Rillie’s extensively shortened rotation.

While Travers’ stats may not be as impressive on the eye as Froling  or even Waardenburg’s, the combo guard/forward has far less offensive sets run for him than his competitors – and plenty of what he does won’t be found on any normal stat sheet.

The way Travers can impact the game on both sides of the floor with his length, anticipation and quiet athleticism makes things easier for his teammates at all times.

Why he doesn’t: It sounds too simple and, if anything, somewhat disregards the quality performances Travers has put in this season – but he doesn’t play as a big a role in his side as Froling or Waardenburg do.

When the game is in the balance you can count on Waardenburg to be not only involved in the action, but likely taking some semblence of control. Travers, on the other hand, has often found himself sitting on the bench when the game has been on the line.

While he’s carved out a niche coming off the pine for the Wildcats, Waardenburg and Froling are embedded in their team’s starting line-ups – Waardenburg even more-so since Keanu Pinder has gone down.

The expert says: "Travers has continued to develop his game this season and while you could argue his import teammate (Brady Manek) should’ve also polled well for this award, there’s no doubt ‘LT’ is one of the best young players in the NBL. Regularly employed as a point forward, Travers’ playmaking out of pick-and-roll has really improved while his efficiency from long range has taken a massive leap. Defensively, he guards multiple positions and regularly blows up actions with his length and athleticism.” – Liam Santamaria.

Luke Travers drives past 2017 Rookie of the Year winner Anthony Drmic.

Sam Waardenburg

The stats: 10.8PPG, 53.5FG%, 4.9REB, 1.2AST

Why he wins: Had the Rookie of the Year Award not been altered to become the Next Generation Award, Waardenburg looked nailed on to win the honour – with the changing of the award criteria though his competition has become a lot fiercer.

The only genuine first-year pro in the running for the award, Waardenburg has seen his on-court roles and responsibility increase over the course of the season – especially in the handful of games Keanu Pinder has been injured.

After starting the season slowly, Waardenburg has just gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed, and he’s become a key member of one of the top performing sides in the competition.

Why he doesn’t: While Froling and Travers – Froling in particular – have been strong and consistent contributors for the entire season, it took Waardenburg some time to get going in his first season out of college.

He averaged just over 20 minutes a game in his first six appearances and scored fewer than 10 points in four of them.

A poorly timed injury in the run up to Christmas also means he has played less games than his competitors – and he played just 16 minutes in the two games upon his return combined.

The expert says: "Rolled out as a permanent starter in just his first year as a pro, Waardenburg has performed like a seasoned vet on one of the best teams in the league. While his per game averages don’t jump off the page, it’s his efficiency that has really impressed, with the Kiwi shooting over 50 percent from the field and nearly 37 percent from downtown. Down the other end, Waardenburg has been a key contributor on one of the league’s top defensive squads, holding his own against powerful units inside while also guarding mobile forwards on the perimeter." – Liam Santamaria.