Back-to-back-to-back: Bryce Cotton claims NBL26 MVP Award

23 Feb 2026

Bryce Cotton has etched his name even deeper into NBL history, claiming a sixth MVP award.

Adelaide 36ers star Bryce Cotton is one step closer to history after being rewarded for his stellar season, winning his sixth Andrew Gaze MVP Trophy - presented by Hungry Jack’s.

Cotton’s sixth MVP is the second-most by an individual, with only Gaze ahead of him with seven.

Cotton won MVPs in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, and now, 2026.

After shifting from the Perth Wildcats to Adelaide in the off-season, Cotton helped the 36ers finish second on the ladder, with a 23-10 record.

In 32 games, Cotton averaged 25.7 points (League-leader), 7.6 assists (league-leader and career-high), 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals (career-high).

He polled 96 votes, edging out fellow finalist Kendric Davis, from the Sydney Kings, by just two votes, on 94.

After leading the Kings to the regular-season championship, Brian Goorjian took out the Lindsay Gaze Trophy for Coach of the Year, his seventh.

South East Melbourne stars Nathan Sobey and John Brown III headlined the All-NBL First Team, alongside Cotton and Davis, as well as Perth’s Kristian Doolittle.

A star-studded All-NBL Second Team featured Cairns’ Jack McVeigh, New Zealand’s Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Sydney’s Xavier Cooks, Tasmania’s Bryce Hamilton and Adelaide’s Zylan Cheatham.

Brown III had a night to remember, also winning the Damian Martin Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate Angus Glover claimed the Sixth Man of the Year.

Adelaide’s Flynn Cameron took out the hotly contested Most Improved Player, with Sam Mennenga winning the Step One Next Generation award.

Michael Aylen won Referee of the Year presented by Europcar for the 11th time, and Melbourne’s Malith Machar was recognised for his efforts in the community were honoured with the Gametime by Kmart award.

Andrew Gaze Trophy for Most Valuable Player

Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) - 96 votes
Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) - 94 votes
Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) and Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix) - 59 votes

Lindsay Gaze Trophy for Coach of the Year

Brian Goorjian (Sydney Kings) - 56 votes
Josh King (South East Melbourne Phoenix) – 48 votes
Mike Wells (Adelaide 36ers), John Rillie (Perth Wildcats) and Scott Roth (Tasmania JackJumpers) - 23 votes

Most Improved Player presented by AAMI

Flynn Cameron (Adelaide 36ers) - 51 votes
Makuach Maluach (Sydney Kings) - 39 votes
Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers) - 35 votes

Best Sixth Man

Angus Glover (South East Melbourne Phoenix) - 64 votes
Kouat Noi (Sydney Kings) - 44 votes
Majok Deng (Tasmania JackJumpers) 33 votes

Damian Martin Trophy for the Best Defensive Player

John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix) - 75 votes
Will Magnay (Tasmania JackJumpers) - 27 votes
Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) - 24 votes

Step One Next Generation Award

Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers) - 65 votes
Karim Lopez (New Zealand Breakers) - 43 votes
Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne Phoenix) - 38 votes

All-NBL First Team

Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) - 54 votes
Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) - 52 votes
Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix) - 52 votes
Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) - 51 votes
John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix) - 36 votes

All-NBL Second Team

Jack McVeigh (Cairns Taipans) - 31 votes
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers) - 30 votes
Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) - 30 votes
Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania JackJumpers) - 28 votes
Zylan Cheatham (Adelaide 36ers) – 23 votes