Why Velička could crash MVP party

A ball hasn't been tipped yet, but the discussion around the Hungry Jack's NBL27 MVP race is already heating up.

Two-time MVP Chris Anstey says he's "Team Kendric" this season, a statement that two-time champion Lanard Copeland agrees with.

Meanwhile, 2009 champion Mark Worthington believes Adelaide's Bryce Cotton will equal Andrew Gaze and win his seventh MVP award, saying, "until Bryce Cotton doesn't win it, it's still Bryce Cotton's award".

Melbourne's star recruit Cole Anthony also made the case for his name to be in the MVP mix, as did Phoenix coach Josh King for his new guard Skylar Mays.

But two-time Olympian Worthington has thrown another name up as a "smokey" for the League's highest individual honour.

"Brisbane's new import point guard Arnas Velička has the potential to be what Steve Nash was when he was the back-to-back MVP [with Phoenix]," Worthington said on the recent NBL Roundtable.

"He averaged 14 points and seven assists in Lithuania last year … that's the equivalent of having 20 anywhere else in the world. They are true assists.

"He's got a great supporting cast around him, [I like] what they've built up there with Will Weaver.

"I really like their roster and the way that they've put that together, going against what they've done the last couple of years.

"I think he can be a real smokey for the MVP."

Worthington rranked Velička as his third best player heading into NBL behind Bryce Cotton and Kendric Davis.

He rounded out his top five players heading into the new season with Perth's Kristian Doolittle at 4 and Tasmania's Taran Armstrong at 5.

Joining Velička on the Bullets' revamped roster are Tyrell Harrison, Jacob Holt, Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton, Rio Bruton, Josh Duach, Nate Hinton, Max Mackinnon, Lat Mayen, Billy McRae, Harry Rouhliadeff and Jaylin Williams.

The Bullets open their NBL27 campaign with a historic Open Air Game against New Zealand at Pat Rafter Arena on Tuesday, September 22.