MVP Preview: The Best Bench Baller

Depth wins championships. Having that all-important difference-maker come in off the bench and change the game is absolutely crucial for those teams trying to compete at the top end of the table.

The evolution of basketball has seen the role of sixth man transform in recent years. It’s no longer necessarily the sixth best player on the team who comes off the bench – it can be a genuine star.

That penchant for teams to bring legitimate star power off the bench is why each of this season’s nominees is an import player – meaning an American will win the award for the first time since Adelaide’s Ramone Moore in 2018.

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 Sports and Foxtel from 8:30pm AEDT on Tuesday, February 7.

Last five winners

NBL22 – Shea Ili (Melbourne United)
NBL21 – Jo Lual-Acuil (Melbourne United)
NBL20 – Jason Cadee (Brisbane Bullets)
NBL19 – Reuben Te Rangi (Brisbane Bullets)
NBL18 – Ramone Moore (Adelaide 36ers)

Multiple winners

Stephen Hoare – 2

Stephen Hoare (L) is the only player to win multiple NBL Sixth Man of the Year crowns. He won them in back-to-back years while playing for Melbourne in 2006 and 2007.

The nominees

Barry Brown Jr (New Zealand Breakers), Tyler Johnson (Brisbane Bullets), Rashard Kelly (Tasmania JackJumpers)

Barry Brown Jr – His credentials:

The stats: 19.5PPG, 46.1FG%, 2.8REB, 2.8AST

Why he wins: Bringing one of the most electric scorers in the NBL off the bench is a luxury Mody Maor and the New Zealand Breakers have made the most of this season.

Brown – when fit this season – has formed an absolutely lethal guard trio with teammates Izayah Le'Afa and Will McDowell-White. While McDowell-White is a true point guard, both Brown and Le’Afa are incredibly capable of making plays without the ball in their hands.

In a team that’s been defined by its ability to get down and dirty and lean into the defensive side of the game, Brown has added a spark of flair and pure scoring capability. While fellow imports Jarrell Brantley and Dererk Pardon crash, bash and score the hard way, Brown’s smooth-moving style offers a great foil.

That’s not to say he’s not willing to do the hard work though – he also averages over a steal per game and has been the perfect addition to what the Breakers have built this season.

Why he doesn’t: In short, injuries. Brown has missed seven of the Breakers’ 27 games so far this season.

Whether it helps or hinders his chances of collecting this individual honour, his side struggled without his influence on the offensive side of the ball.

His offensive clip of just 34.3 per cent shooting from the three-point line – while solid – is probably lower than what the Breakers would expect or want for their main scoring option within their guard rotation.

The expert says: "This guy has been a revelation this season on a Breakers squad set to make its first finals appearance since 2018. He’s come off the bench for the majority of the season and Brown Jr ranks third in the league in scoring with an average of 19ppg, and he always brings the energy at the defensive end of the floor. He’s tough, he’s feisty and he’s a key piece on a championship-contending squad." – NBL Analyst and former Victoria Titan Liam Santamaria.

Barry Brown Jr has added a spectacular scoring punch to the Breakers this season.

Tyler Johnson – His credentials:

The stats: 15.8PPG, 48.8FG%, 3.6REB, 2.8AST

Why he wins: Since Greg Vanderjagt came on board as interim head coach Tyler Johnson has been a revelation. He may have started the season slowly but he finished it as one of the most dangerous players in the competition.

You only had to see Brisbane’s overtime win against Adelaide to see exactly why this man was brought to the NBL, and while it’s not necessarily worked out for the Bullets this season Johnson has been a shining light in a tough campaign.

Whether it’s as a scorer, a distributor, or a calming presence, Brisbane has looked infinitely better when Johnson has been on the floor this season.

Why he doesn’t: Johnson’s season – much like that of many of his teammates – has become a victim of the uncertainty surrounding the Bullets organisation the whole campaign.

The squad has experienced more ups and downs than many in recent NBL history, but once Johnson found his feet within a nearly constantly changing system his quality shone through.

That ninth-place finish doesn’t make for good reading for any player chasing individual recognition though.

The expert says: "It took Johnson a little while to find his feet in NBL23, but when he did – and the Bullets started to use him more effectively – he became a highly productive scorer off the bench. Across the entire campaign the former NBA vet put up around 16 points per game, but over the final third of the season he’s posted much closer to 20 a night on some very healthy shooting clips. The Bullets only signed him on a one year deal, so if Brisbane doesn’t re-sign him, hopefully some other NBL team does." – Liam Santamaria.

Tyler Johnson has been one of the top scorers in the competition over the second half of NBL22.

Rashard Kelly – His credentials

The stats: 12.1PPG, 42FG%, 6.2REB, 1.4AST

Why he wins: If you look at the basic stats surrounding Rashard Kelly’s season, you would assume he was third in line to win the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The thing about Kelly though is his game is far more than just putting points on the board.

After losing MiKyle McIntosh at the end of last season, Kelly has emerged as the perfect replacement for the 6’7” forward.

Everything that’s good about Kelly is everything that’s good about the JackJumpers. He’s an unassuming, hard-working individual, but he has the ability to absolutely light teams up when given the opportunity.

Whether it’s been backing Will Magnay up at the centre position, or coming in and playing at power forward, the all-around aspect of Kelly’s game will have given plenty of opposition coaches headaches and allowed the more flamboyant scorers on his side to thrive.

Why he doesn’t: The numbers. As well as Kelly passes the eye-test he’s the type of player who, when you look at the box score, you doubt how well you think he played because he only finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Kelly is an exceptional player and he fills a crucial role for the JackJumpers, but the sheer weight of numbers put up by his competition may see him pipped at the post. 

The expert says: "There’s a toughness about Rashard Kelly that typifies the JackJumpers and makes him a really great fit within the ‘grit and grind’ culture of that squad. He’s just a no-nonsense, hard-nosed competitor – at both ends of the floor – who brings it each and every night for his team. It’s not about the numbers with Kelly, although 12 and six a night is nothing to sneeze at. It’s about his reliable contributions off the bench on one of the most reliable squads in the league." –Liam Santamaria.

Rashard Kelly personfies everything positive about the Tasmania JackJumpers.