New champion, same superstar: NBL26 predictions from the experts

It's that time of year again, when our experts get out the crystal ball and make their early predictions for all the key awards, trophies and accolades ahead of the Hungry Jack's NBL26 Season.

According to our panel, a new champion is set to be crowned this year, while a superstar is tipped to run it back again.

Check out all the predictions below, and don't forget to watch every game of the NBL26 Season, live on ESPN from Thursday, September 18.

>> Download the free NBL App for live scores, stats and breaking news‍

Top 4

(in no order)

Andrew Gaze – Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Melbourne United, Sydney Kings
Ariana Prather – Adelaide 36ers, Sydney Kings, Melbourne United, Brisbane Bullets
Brad Rosen – Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings
Damon Lowery – Illawarra Hawks, Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats, Tasmania JackJumpers
Derek Rucker – Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers, Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats
Felix Von Hofe – Adelaide 36ers, Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats
Jack Heverin – Tasmania JackJumpers, Sydney Kings, Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers
Jo Healy – Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings, Cairns Taipans
John Casey – Illawarra Hawks, Adelaide 36ers, Tasmania JackJumpers, Melbourne United
Lachie Reid – Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings
Lanard Copeland – Illawarra Hawks, Melbourne United, Tasmania JackJumpers, Perth Wildcats
Olgun Uluc – Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats
Pete Hooley – Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers, Tasmania JackJumpers, Melbourne United
Steph Baumgartel – Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers, Illawarra Hawks, Melbourne United

Most votes: Adelaide 36ers – 12, Melbourne United – 12, Perth Wildcats – 10, Sydney Kings – 9, Tasmania JackJumpers – 4, Illawarra Hawks – 3, Cairns Taipans – 1, Brisbane Bullets – 1

Champions

Andrew Gaze – Adelaide 36ers
Ariana Prather – Adelaide 36ers
Felix Von Hofe – Adelaide 36ers
Jo Healy – Adelaide 36ers
Brad Rosen – Melbourne United
Derek Rucker – Melbourne United
Olgun Uluc – Melbourne United
John Casey – Illawarra Hawks
Damon Lowery – Illawarra Hawks
Lanard Copeland – Illawarra Hawks
Pete Hooley – Perth Wildcats
Steph Baumgartel – Perth Wildcats
Lachie Reid – Perth Wildcats
Jack Heverin – Tasmania JackJumpers

Most votes: Adelaide 36ers – 4, Melbourne United – 3, Illawarra Hawks – 3, Perth Wildcats – 3, Tasmania JackJumpers – 1

MVP

Andrew Gaze – Bryce Cotton
Ariana Prather – Bryce Cotton
Brad Rosen – Kendric Davis
Damon Lowery – Xavier Cooks
Derek Rucker – Bryce Cotton
Felix Von Hofe – Kendric Davis
Jack Heverin – Bryce Cotton
Jo Healy – Bryce Cotton
John Casey – Bryce Cotton
Lachie Reid – Bryce Cotton
Lanard Copeland – Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Olgun Uluc – Bryce Cotton
Pete Hooley – Bryce Cotton
Steph Baumgartel – Kendric Davis

Most votes: Bryce Cotton – 9, Kendric Davis – 3, Xavier Cooks – 1, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. – 1

All NBL First Team

Andrew Gaze – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Kristian Doolittle, JaVale McGee
Ariana Prather – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Casey Prather, Jack McVeigh, Montrezl Harrell
Brad Rosen – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Kristian Doolittle, Izaiah Brockington
Damon Lowery – Tyler Harvey, Bryce Hamilton, Izaiah Brockington, Xavier Cooks, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Derek Rucker – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Bryce Hamilton, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Felix Von Hofe – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jack McVeigh, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Jack Heverin – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Xavier Cooks, Bryce Hamilton, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Jo Healy – Bryce Cotton, Tyson Walker, Jack McVeigh, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Will Magnay
John Casey – Mason Jones, Bryce Cotton, Izaiah Brockington, Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay
Lachie Reid – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Xavier Cooks, Kristian Doolittle
Lanard Copeland – Bryce Cotton, Izaiah Brockington, Bryce Hamilton, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Will Magnay
Olgun Uluc – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Milton Doyle, Bryce Hamilton, Xavier Cooks
Pete Hooley – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Bryce Hamilton, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Kristian Doolittle
Steph Baumgartel – Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., JaVale McGee

Most votes: Bryce Cotton – 14, Kendric Davis – 11, Jack McVeigh – 10, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. – 6, Bryce Hamilton – 5, Kristian Doolittle – 4, Xavier Cooks – 3, Izaiah Brockington – 3, Will Magnay – 3, JaVale McGee – 2, Javon Freeman-Liberty – 2, Casey Prather – 1, Montrezl Harrell – 1, Mason Jones – 1, Tyson Walker – 1, Tyler Harvey – 1, Milton Doyle – 1, Parker Jackson-Cartwright – 1

Best Defensive Player

Andrew Gaze – JaVale McGee
Ariana Prather – Sam McDaniel
Brad Rosen – Will Magnay
Damon Lowery – JaVale McGee
Derek Rucker – Will Magnay
Felix Von Hofe – JaVale McGee
Jack Heverin – Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk
Jo Healy – Will Magnay
John Casey – Will Magnay
Lachie Reid – Will Magnay
Lanard Copeland – Shea Ili
Olgun Uluc – Sam McDaniel
Pete Hooley – Will Magnay
Steph Baumgartel – Shea Ili

Most votes: Will Magnay – 6, JaVale McGee – 3, Sam McDaniel – 2, Shea Ili – 2, Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk – 1

Coach of the Year

Andrew Gaze – Mike Wells
Ariana Prather – Adam Forde
Brad Rosen – Mike Wells
Damon Lowery – John Rillie
Derek Rucker – John Rillie
Felix Von Hofe – John Rillie
Jack Heverin – Scott Roth
Jo Healy – Adam Forde
John Casey – Justin Tatum
Lachie Reid – Dean Vickerman
Lanard Copeland – John Rillie
Olgun Uluc – Dean Vickerman
Pete Hooley – Adam Forde
Steph Baumgartel – Adam Forde

Most votes: Adam Forde – 4, John Rillie – 4, Mike Wells – 2, Dean Vickerman – 2, Justin Tatum – 1, Scott Roth – 1

Most Improved Player

Andrew Gaze – Jaylin Galloway
Ariana Prather – Will Hickey
Brad Rosen – Owen Foxwell
Damon Lowery – Kody Stattmann
Derek Rucker – Jaylin Galloway
Felix Von Hofe – Karim Lopez
Jack Heverin – Owen Foxwell
Jo Healy – Ben Henshall
John Casey – Jaylin Galloway
Lachie Reid – Kody Stattmann
Lanard Copeland – Kody Stattmann
Olgun Uluc – Jaylin Galloway
Pete Hooley – Will Hickey
Steph Baumgartel – Owen Foxwell

Most votes: Jaylin Galloway – 4, Kody Stattmann – 3, Owen Foxwell – 3, Will Hickey – 2, Ben Henshall – 1, Karim Lopez – 1

Best Sixth Man

Brad Rosen – Flynn Cameron
Damon Lowery – Flynn Cameron
Jack Heverin – Angus Glover
Jo Healy – Marcus Lee
John Casey – Jaylin Galloway
Lachie Reid – Tanner Krebs
Lanard Copeland – Kouat Noi
Olgun Uluc – Isaac White
Derek Rucker – Isaac White
Felix Von Hofe – Izayah Le’Afa
Pete Hooley – Tyson Walker

Most votes: Flynn Cameron – 2, Isaac White – 2, Jaylin Galloway – 1, Angus Glover – 1, Marcus Lee – 1, Tanner Krebs – 1, Kouat Noi – 1, Izayah Le’Afa – 1, Tyson Walker – 1

One new face you’re excited to watch

Andrew Gaze – JaVale McGee
Ariana Prather – Javon Freeman-Liberty
Brad Rosen – JaVale McGee
Damon Lowery – Mawot Mag
Derek Rucker – Javon Freeman-Liberty
Felix Von Hofe – Reyne Smith
Jack Heverin – Bryce Hamilton
Jo Healy – Izaiah Brockington
John Casey – Izaiah Brockington
Lachie Reid – Javon Freeman-Liberty
Lanard Copeland – Javon Freeman-Liberty
Olgun Uluc – Zylan Cheatham
Pete Hooley – Javon Freeman-Liberty
Steph Baumgartel – Admiral Schofield

Most votes: Javon Freeman-Liberty – 5, JaVale McGee – 2, Izaiah Brockington – 2, Bryce Hamilton – 1, Mawot Mag – 1, Reyne Smith – 1, Zylan Cheatham – 1, Admiral Schofield – 1