Awards Watch: December Edition

It’s been a week full of NBL23 award chat, so it’s time we break down who is building their resume nicely and perhaps a couple who have almost locked it up?

MVP

Last time we checked in on the MVP race, we touched on the fact that Keanu Pinder had started the season on fire and has become a name we must be discussing in terms of this award. That hasn’t changed. In fact the conversation only got louder in the recent weeks with the way he’s been playing. Pinder is averaging 18.7 points, 10 rebounds per game and at times looks to only scratch the surface of how good he can be.

On Monday night it was the matchup many had been waiting for – Xavier Cooks vs Pinder. The favourite for the MVP and the up-and-coming challenger. Boy, this matchup did not disappoint. Both players having monster double doubles to try and lead their team to a win, but in the end it was Pinder who took advantage of Cooks being fouled off and Cairns walked away victorious. As it stands, I still have Cooks ahead in the MVP race due to his presence on the defensive end as well as the numbers he puts up offensively, but there is a whole lot of season left to come.

Let’s also not forget about Mitch Creek and Bryce Cotton. The two leading scorers in the league are having themselves outstanding seasons once again. Creek is leading the charge for a Phoenix team that has shown signs of the contender many had thought they would be, whereas Cotton is doing everything and anything he can to try and right the ship out west.

P.S ... He may have started slow, but Robert Franks is well and truly coming for the MVP conversation.

In the mix
Xavier Cooks
Keanu Pinder
Mitch Creek
Bryce Cotton
Robert Franks

Xavier Cooks. 

Most Improved Player

It’s crazy to think about a previous winner of this award being the leading contender to win it again, yet here we are. As Liam Santamaria said on Overtime this week, Pinder has “made the two big leaps” in back-to-back seasons and has well and truly got his name all over this award. From his rookie season at Adelaide where he struggled to hit the floor and make an impact, Pinder found a home in Cairns and flourished in NBL21 before becoming a leading MVP contender this season. In Adelaide he averaged 4.8ppg and 4 rebounds. Last season it was 10.9ppg and 7.6 rebounds, and then to now where he’s up to nearly 19 points per game and a walking double double. Yeah, I’d say that’s significant improvement.

There has been a lot of buzz around the Breakers so far this season and deservedly so. It will be interesting to see how the players go in terms of awards come seasons end, because they are just such a good team, rather than a couple of standout indivudals. Having said that, the emergence of Izayah Le’Afa has been a much needed punch for Mody Maor. He’s averaging 12.5 points per game, up from his 8.8 last season and has been lighting it up at significant times for New Zealand.

In the mix
Keanu Pinder
Izayah Le’Afa
Jack McVeigh
Will McDowell-White
Kouat Noi
David Okwera

Keanu Pinder. 

Best Defensive Player

Everyone will have their own idea in their head on how to judge players for the best defensive award in the NBL. Personally, I have always been a big believer that looking at block and steal statistics should only make up a very minimal percentage of how you judge defence. Players like Xavier Cooks and Dererk Pardon are absolute monsters on the defensive end, and it may not always show up in the stats. It’s their positioning off the ball, their ability to alter shots without fouling, the way they guard ball screens. They are two of the best defenders in the NBL for good reason, and it’s no surprise that their teams are at the top of the table because of it.

Having said that, when you have such a strong defensive team like New Zealand, it can be hard to really lean towards one player when they are doing such an amazing job collectively. It’s a bit like the Taipans as well. So much talk about their offence that we forget how tough they are on the other end. DJ Hogg is second in the league in blocks, but if I had to pick a leading defensive contender on that squad, I’d give the nod to Bul Kuol. Kuol sets the tone on the opposition's best guard and it becomes contagious throughout his team. It’s very Matthew Dellavedova like.

In the mix
Dererk Pardon
Xavier Cooks
Bul Kuol
Justin Simon
DJ Hogg

Dererk Pardon. 

Best Sixth Man

On the eve of Round 9 and the best sixth man award looks to be heading across to New Zealand already. There will be a few more contenders pop up and some others strengthen their numbers, but Barry Brown Jr is the favourite for this by a long way as it stands. Brown Jr has been a beast off the bench for the Breakers, averaging just under 20 points per game to be third in the competition. Call it a stroke of genius from Mody Maor for putting his star import in that position, but also give a lot of credit to Brown Jr for buying into it and doing what was needed for his team to be successful.

I find it hard to envision a scenario where Brown Jr doesn’t walk away with this award, barring any crazy circumstance. Rashard Kelly for the JackJumpers has been another import who has moved to the bench and found his role to help the team. His 13.4ppg and 7.7 rebounds has him still in the hunt for the best sixth man role, no doubt. The JackJumpers have welcomed back Will Magnay to the lineup so it will be interesting to see how that changes rotations for the big man department.

One to keep an eye on is McCall for the snakes. Since returning from injury, his new role looks to be coming off the bench and providing a spark. That could really help unlock his best and he could have a major impact to finish the season.

In the mix
Barry Brown Jr
Rashard Kelly
Kouat Noi
Tyler Johnson
Tahjere McCall

Tyler Johnson. 

Rookie of the Year

If the best sixth man had a short priced favourite, the Rookie of the Year is already a given. Sam Waardenburg has put together a hugely impactful season to date, averaging just under 11 points per game, four rebounds and all whilst shooting 50 per cent from the floor and 40 cent from three. Adam Forde built this young squad in hopes to unlock their potential going forward, much like he did with Pinder and Kuol last season, and he has done it once again with Waardenburg.

He may be odds on to win Rookie of the Year, but he won’t be without a challenge down the stretch of the season. At Sydney we have seen young gun Jaylin Galloway get increased opportunity in this incredibly deep team, and he’s shown glimpses of how bright his future will be. It says a lot already that he has managed to even break into this rotation, considering how deep they are as a team, but Galloway is starting to earn those minutes based on what he does on the floor.

I’m still pushing for a look at changing the criteria for this award, as there is always so much talk around it. Development players like Sean Macdonald have been absolutely brilliant for Tasmania, as has Lachie Dent for the Hawks. Maybe a Rising Stars type award, where we have an age cut-off or games played limit too? I think there’s room for growth here.

In the mix
Sam Waardenburg
David Okwera
Jaylin Galloway
Junior Madut

Sam Waardenburg. 

Coach of the Year

What a race this is going to be come season's end. On one hand, I feel for Chase Buford in this award race. There is every chance that Buford could fall victim to a similar fate he did in NBL21 and one that that Trevor Gleeson did a few seasons ago ... where he had the best team in the league, finished top of the table and yet didn’t win coach of the year due to an incredible performance from around the league. The Kings have lost a couple of games to Cairns, but I have mentioned previously that I believe that will only help their championship credentials come season's end. They’ll take a lot of lessons out of those games and have the best game plan in place when finals rolls around. Big shoutout to Chase Buford, though. To have the reigning champs looking this good after eight rounds, after losing their three key imports in the off-season, it’s crazy impressive.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Mody Maor has been so much more than just a much-needed change for the Breakers, he’s been a revelation. From the culture he created, to the game style, to the roster all complementing each other, Maor has been nothing short of incredible. Just ask any Breakers player what he means to them, and their answer will probably inspire you. This club finished bottom of the league last season and currently sits top after eight rounds. They are every bit a championship threat and Maor is a major reason why.

In the mix
Mody Maor
Chase Buford
Adam Forde
Simon Mitchell
CJ Bruton

Mody Maor.