“I never want to say it…”: Anstey’s huge Championship prediction

Sydney versus Adelaide, Kendric Davis versus Bryce Cotton, Xavier Cooks versus Dejan Vasiljevic, Brian Goorjian versus Mike Wells.

There’s no doubting this season’s Championship Series has countless exciting storylines and matchups, which hoops fans are excited to see.

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One of those said fans is two-time MVP Chris Anstey, who can’t wait for the series to tip off at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday night.

“This is the one [matchup] that, in our heart of hearts, I think most people wanted,” Anstey said on Thursday’s episode of NBL Now.

“I want the two best players in the league going at it. I want the rivalry that's been created this year. I can't wait, two more sleeps.

“There's a mutual level of respect that they're both top of the tree, and they want to knock each other off.

“They'll probably end up being tied. They’ve got so much in common, and the rivalry is real.”

A big part of that rivalry stems from the Cotton versus Davis conversation, with the former winning this year’s tight MVP race by just two votes.

While Davis’ teammate Xavier Cooks this week called the Kings American guard "the best player in the league’" Anstey believes six-time MVP Cotton will have the biggest say on the upcoming five-game series.

“Bryce Cotton's a leader of that club, regardless of who the head coach is, and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way,” he said.

“But his teammates go, Bryce Cotton will win or lose this championship for Adelaide.”

With that being said, the three-time champion is predicting a sweep in the 2025-26 series.

“Nobody hands out championships, and we have the best two teams in the competition playing a five-game series,” he said.

“Sydney has home court advantage. Game one will be huge.

“I never ever want to predict a sweep, but I think Sydney might sweep Adelaide.”

The highly anticipated Hungry Jack's NBL26 Championship Series, between Sydney and Adelaide, tips off at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday at 7pm AEDT, live on ESPN and 10 Drama.