NBL23 Way Too Early Predictions

By NBL Media

It’s time to take the first look into the NBL23 crystal ball.

While there are still some key player signings to be announced and pre-season form to assess, our panel of experts have provided their way too early predictions for NBL23.

Who will win the MVP? 
Liam Santamaria – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Peter Hooley – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Andrew Gaze – Aron Baynes (Brisbane Bullets) 
Corey Williams – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Jenni Screen – Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats) 
Matt Logue – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Jo Healy – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Kane Pitman – Rayjon Tucker (Melbourne United)
Michael Houben – Rayjon Tucker (Melbourne United)
Damon Lowery – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Popular picks: Xavier Cooks (six votes)

Who will win the Coach of the Year?  
Liam Santamaria – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Peter Hooley – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Andrew Gaze – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Corey Williams – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Jenni Screen – Chase Buford (Sydney Kings)
Matt Logue – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Jo Healy – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Kane Pitman – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Michael Houben – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Damon Lowery – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Popular picks: CJ Bruton (five votes), John Rillie (four votes) 

Who will make the All-NBL First Team?
Liam Santamaria – Derrick Walton Jr, Bryce Cotton, Rayjon Tucker, Aron Baynes, Xavier Cooks
Peter Hooley – Craig Randall II, Rayjon Tucker, Bryce Cotton, Xavier Cooks, Aron Baynes
Andrew Gaze – Aron Baynes, Bryce Cotton, Tyler Johnson, Brady Manek, Mitch Creek
Corey Williams – Xavier Cooks, Bryce Cotton, Craig Randall II, Mitch Creek, Dejan Vasiljevic
Jenni Screen – Aron Baynes, Bryce Cotton, Xavier Cooks, Luke Travers, Dejan Vasiljevic
Matt Logue – Bryce Cotton, Tyler Johnson, Antonius Cleveland, Xavier Cooks, Aron Baynes
Jo Healy – Bryce Cotton, Mitch Creek, Rayjon Tucker, Xavier Cooks, Aron Baynes
Kane Pitman – Bryce Cotton, Rayjon Tucker, Mitch Creek, Xavier Cooks, Robert Franks
Michael Houben – Rayjon Tucker, Derrick Walton Jr, Bryce Cotton, Mitch Creek, Xavier Cooks 
Damon Lowery – Xavier Cooks, Mitch Creek, Daniel Johnson, Bryce Cotton, Tyler Harvey
Popular picks: Byron Cotton (ten votes), Xavier Cooks (nine votes)

Who will win the Most Improved Player? 
Liam Santamaria – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers)
Peter Hooley – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers)
Andrew Gaze – Isaac Humphries (Melbourne United) 
Corey Williams – Kyrin Galloway (Adelaide 36ers) 
Jenni Screen – Dejan Vasiljevic (Sydney Kings)
Matt Logue – David Okwera (Melbourne United)
Jo Healy – Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) 
Kane Pitman – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers)
Michael Houben – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers) 
Damon Lowery – Isaac Humphries (Melbourne United)
Popular picks: William McDowell-White (four votes), Isaac Humphries (two votes)

Who will be the next NBL player to make the NBA? 
Liam Santamaria – Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers) 
Peter Hooley – Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) 
Andrew Gaze – Luke Travers (Perth Wildcats)
Corey Williams – Craig Randall II (Adelaide 36ers)
Jenni Screen – Kai Sotto (Adelaide 36ers) 
Matt Logue – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) 
Jo Healy – Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United)
Kane Pitman – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Michael Houben – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) 
Damon Lowery – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Popular picks: Xavier Cooks (four votes), Ariel Hukporti (two votes)

Which player or team will be this season’s surprise packet?
Liam Santamaria – Akoldah Gak (Illawarra Hawks)
Peter Hooley – New Zealand Breakers
Andrew Gaze – Adelaide 36ers
Corey Williams – Brisbane Bullets
Jenni Screen – Brady Manek (Perth Wildcats) and Brisbane Bullets
Matt Logue – Brisbane Bullets
Jo Healy – Brisbane Bullets
Kane Pitman – Kouat Noi (Sydney Kings) 
Michael Houben – Sam Waardenburg (Cairns Taipans) and DJ Mitchell (Brisbane Bullets)
Damon Lowery – Illawarra Hawks
Popular picks: Teams - Brisbane Bullets (four votes)

In no order, who will make the Finals (including the Play-In Tournament)?
Liam Santamaria – Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, South East Melbourne, Sydney
Peter Hooley – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, South East Melbourne, Perth
Andrew Gaze – South East Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide
Corey Williams – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, South East Melbourne, Sydney, Perth
Jenni Screen – Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, New Zealand, Tasmania 
Matt Logue – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, South East Melbourne 
Jo Healy – Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, South East Melbourne, Perth
Kane Pitman – Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, South East Melbourne, Brisbane
Michael Houben – Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, South East Melbourne, Illawarra
Damon Lowery – Adelaide, Sydney, South East Melbourne, Melbourne, Perth, Illawarra
Popular picks: Adelaide (Ten votes), Perth (ten votes), Sydney (ten votes), Melbourne (nine votes), South East Melbourne (nine votes), Brisbane (eight votes)

Who will win the championship?  
Liam Santamaria – Melbourne United 
Peter Hooley – Adelaide 36ers 
Andrew Gaze – Sydney Kings 
Corey Williams – Perth Wildcats
Jenni Screen – Sydney Kings
Matt Logue – Perth Wildcats
Jo Healy – Melbourne United
Kane Pitman – Sydney Kings
Michael Houben – Sydney Kings 
Damon Lowery – Adelaide 36ers
Popular picks: Sydney Kings (four votes), Melbourne United (two votes), Adelaide 36ers (two votes), Perth Wildcats (two votes)