Awards Watch: NBL expert makes his picks

With the NBL reaching its unofficial halfway mark, there is no better time to take a stocktake of Hungry Jack's NBL26 season.

NBL champion Pete Hooley has short-listed his five top contenders of all the major awards.

Most Valuable Player - Presented by Hungry Jack's:

Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers)
JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks)
Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings)
Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Tyson Walker (Melbourne United)

Winner: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers)
Next in line: Tyson Walker (Melbourne United)

"He [Bryce] has been unbelievable and I think he's the one guy he might be above voter fatigue, because a couple other awards I think everyone's like he can't possibly win his sixth but you look at what he's doing and everybody understands it's his award to lose right now," Hooley said.

"He continues to get better and he's more efficient.

"He's gone to a whole new club, a whole new team. Learnt [to play with] his new teammates. The way he's playing with Isaac Humphrey and Zylan Cheatham, it's unfathomable to be able to just do this so quickly when you spend so long with one team, with one structure, with one city.

"We talk offence obviously, but points have been a major contribution, but steals are up, assists are up, even his plus-minus is a little bit better than last season as well."

Defensive Player of the Year:

John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Tyson Walker (Melbourne United)
Jesse Edwards (Melbourne United)
Bul Kuol (Sydney Kings)
JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks)

Winner: John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Next in line: Bul Kuol (Sydney Kings)

"Look at the Sydney Kings results when he's playing at his very best. They're winning games and look tough to beat," Hooley said.

"Bul Kuol is so important to this team. We know he's an elite defender. We've seen it time and time again. I love this year's version of Bul Kuol.

"If they want to be a championship contender, he's going have to step up and do that on the defensive end."

Next Gen Award:

Jaron Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers)
Mojave King (Cairns Taipans)
Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers)

Winner: Mojave King
Next in line: Karim Lopez

"I give Mojave King the nod here. He hasn't played enough to win it right now but he's going to by season's end," Hooley said.

"He hasn't missed a beat since coming in as an injury replacement player for Alex Higgins-Titsha.

"He's shooting the three-ball at a high rate. He's getting anywhere he wants on the floor.

"You think about this Cairns team, it's Jack McVeigh's team, and then it's King is the second option.

"Andrew Andrew has had his moments. Admiral Schofield's been a bit disappointing, until Sam Wardenberg comes back. There's no reason why Mojave King can't make a run at this late."

Sixth Man of the Year:

Angus Glover (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Kouat Noi (Sydney Kings)
Majok Deng (Tasmania JackJumpers)
QJ Peterson (Illawarra Hawks)
Tanner Krebs (Melbourne United)

Winner: Kouat Noi
Next in line: Majok Deng

"If you don't look at the starting lineup or if you just watch the Sydney Kings games from five minutes into the first quarter until the very end of it for the last few years, you think he [Kouat] is a starter," Hooley said.

"He's a starting level player in the NBL, but his role on this team is to come in and be that spark plug, be the energy guy.

"He shoots the three-ball at a high rate. The confidence, the team comes with him in that regard as well.

"Everybody loves what Kouat Noi does and the way that he goes about it."

Most Improved Player of the Year:

Flynn Cameron (Adelaide 36ers)
Josh Bannan (Tasmania JackJumpers)
Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers)
Will Hickey (Illawarra Hawks)

Winner: Sam Mennenga
Next in line: Owen Foxwell

"Sam Mennenga might have a few fingers on this award already, he's been terrific," Hooley said.

"[Honestly] he is their main guy and PJC [Parker Jackson-Cartwright] might agree with that too. Parker is their engine room. He's obviously got the ball in his hands.

"But you look at the games where they put teams away or get that lead, it's been because of Mennenga, despite struggling to close out games.

"I believe that it be him or Owen Foxwell who will be winning this award."

Coach of the Year:

Brian Goorjian (Sydney Kings)
Dean Vickerman (Melbourne United)
John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Josh King (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
Mike Wells (Adelaide 36ers)

Winner: Dean Vickerman (Melbourne United)
Next in line: Josh King (South East Melbourne Phoenix)

"[A big factor for this award] is ladder position because that shows who the best team in the competition is and right now, that is Melbourne United and Dean Vickerman," Hooley said.

"They are the benchmark once again. He [Vickerman] has been terrific. He'll have some company though, including Josh King, who is doing a phenomenal job with the Phoenix."

Following the FIBA Break, the Hungry Jack's NBL26 season resumes on Wednesday night when New Zealand hosts Illawarra in Hamilton on Wednesday night from 5.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.