NBL22 Awards Watch - Volume 3

There have only been four rounds of the season, and yes some teams haven’t played for over a week, but we can already see a couple of patterns forming across the awards watch! With so much uncertainty going forward, we’re going to see players have no choice but to stand up to help their team find success. 

Who has firmed up in the race? Who has dropped out? Who has put themselves in the picture? 

MVP

Whenever you join one of the most successful sporting organizations in recent history, there comes an element of expectation for you to only help that trend continue. Now add that to the fact that said organization just happens to have one of the greatest imports of all time as part of it, well then that expectation grows even bigger. Yet here we are seeing Vic Law, team up alongside Bryce Cotton, and produce a dominant start to the season.

Law is leading the league in scoring at just over 24ppg, and has shown everyone that he is one of the best players in the competition. He can flat out score from everywhere in a variety of ways, and you add that alongside a man who everyone knows can do the same, and that’s a dangerous recipe for nine other teams.    

It’s a crazy world to think that one of Cotton’s teammates could hold up the MVP trophy, but from the early signs of the Perth Wildcats, there’s every chance that could happen. Shawn Redhage asked Law post game last week if he was the Robin to Bryce’s Batman, to which he humbly replied by saying that’s fine with him. Make no mistake, there’s no sidekick here, these two superheroes are a powerful duo!

Mitch Creek
Vic Law
Duop Reath
Robert Franks
Bryce Cotton

Best Defensive Player

With a lot of awards set to be heavily contested, the Damian Martin Trophy could very well be a three-horse race. Whilst there are a number of strong defenders around the league, it’s Zhou Qi, Tahjere McCall and Matthew Dellavedova who currently stand a level above the rest. 

His last game may have been nearly two weeks ago, but in the loss to the Kings, Zhou Qi stood out once again on the defensive end with 13 rebounds and five blocks. We might have to start a new statistical category for “shots altered” as well because Qi would fill that up every single night. It must be a nice feeling being a guard on the Phoenix to know that if you get beat on the perimeter, Qi has got your back. Although there might not be a big number of players who will contest for this award, Qi will have his hands full, because McCall and Delly are really starting to have a big impact on the defensive end as we expected. 

Zhou Qi
Tahjere McCall
Matthew Dellavedova
Antonius Cleveland 
Will Magnay

Most Improved Player

It’s been a really nice start to the season for Xavier Cooks personally, considering the Sydney Kings have struggled at times. However, Cooks has stood up and both ends and done it consistently. It’s always going to create debate to have a guy of Cooks’ calibre be in contention for this award, but when the shoe fits, it fits. 

Cooks is averaging 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and just under 2 blocks per game. He’s relishing the opportunity to have a major role with the Kings this season, and he’s only going to get better. Once he starts to knock down the outside shot, he is going to become a matchup issue for a lot of teams. 

Whilst the Kings have been inconsistent to begin NBL22, Cooks has been a model of consistency,  scoring in double figures in each game so far. Once Sydney gets some players returning from injury, and start to perform as many think they will – don’t be surprised if Xavier Cooks slowly starts to enter the MVP conversation. 

Tyrell Harrison
Xavier Cooks
Majok Majok
Yanni Wetzell
Kouat Noi 

Best Sixth Man

Last Awards Watch I noted how this award might be Xavier Rathan-Mayes’ to lose. Whilst I still believe he is the front runner early in the season, it’s Jeremiah Martin who has launched himself back in contention, after his recent strong performances. Having started a few games due to injuries to other Breakers players, Martin has since shifted back to the bench where he seems to excel in his role.

We have seen many coaches try to bring imports off the bench over previous seasons, and it usually goes either one of two ways. They either buy-in for the benefit of both themselves and the team, or they pack it in mentally and struggle. Make no mistake, Martin is a stud of a player, and him coming off the bench just seems to suit both him and the Breakers team. It gives him the chance to be the main playmaking option with the bench unit and he still plays starters minutes. 

His last two games have been 19 points against United and then 24 points with 8 assists against Tasmania. Yes, both have come in losses, but the Breakers will need Martin to continue to put up these kind of numbers for the rest of the season. They just need the rest of the team to all put it together on the same night, too. 

Xavier Rathan-Mayes
Jeremiah Martin
Kyle Adnam 
Clint Steindl
Cam Bairstow

Rookie of the Year

As previously noted in the first two editions of this Awards Watch, it will take an almighty effort for someone to take this from Luke Travers. However, with the Kings' injury concerns continuing to be an issue, Biwali Bayles has grabbed his opportunity for my playing time and delivered. Bayles is a guy who Chase Buford can turn to for an energy spark on both ends as he looks to fill the void of the injured Jaylen Adams.

Bayles is coming off a tough outing against the reigning champions, but he’s averaging just under 7 points per game so far. It would take both consistent playing time and production for Bayles to really take it at Travers for the Rookie of the Year. Because when we look at Travers, it’s more than just points and rebounds. He can influence a game in so many ways, and he will have that consistent opportunity to do so for Perth.

Luke Travers
Biwali Bayles
Izayah Le’Afa
Mason Peatling
Makur Maker

Coach of the Year

With so many uncontrollable disruptions to teams around the league, it’s time to highlight the early brilliance of Scott Morrison. (Can’t remember the last time I read those words) The wildcats look very good early, after what was a disrupted preseason. Yes they have two of the best players in the league, but they’re also implementing an entire new offence in NBL22. Scott Morrison has a lot of different pieces to work with, as the Wildcats depth is something that has stood out in the first four rounds. 

When Morrison took over the job, I thought that sideline of RAC Arena might get some silence this season. I was wrong. It’s clear that Morrison is a master of communication (can’t remember the last time I read that either) and the way he goes about chatting to both his players and referees, seems to be a perfect balance of frustration and compliments. The fact that his mother has supposedly chimed in already, to tell him to watch his words on the microphone, means that he was raised a true gentleman who just so happens to be a great basketball coach.                          

Brian Goorjian 
Simon Mitchell
Scott Morrison 
James Duncan
Dean Vickerman