Bryce Cotton’s Legacy in the NBL
Bryce Cotton has firmly established himself as one of the National Basketball League (NBL)’s all-time greats. His legacy is built on a foundation of multiple championships and an impressive run of MVP awards. Over the course of nine seasons, Cotton became the face of the Perth Wildcats, showcasing his talent and leadership on the court.
In the off-season, Cotton made a move to the Adelaide 36ers and quickly adapted to his new team. His performance was nothing short of elite, leading the league in scoring with an impressive average of 25.7 points per game. Additionally, he led the league in assists with a career-high of 7.6 dimes, demonstrating his versatility and playmaking ability.
Cotton’s exceptional play helped the 36ers finish second on the ladder with a record of 23-10. This success earned him his third consecutive regular season Most Valuable Player of the Year trophy, bringing his name closer to historical significance.
With his sixth MVP trophy, Cotton now sits just one behind Andrew Gaze, after whom the award is named, for the most all-time. If he can add another championship to his resume this season, he will join an elite group in NBL history.
Since the league’s inception in 1979, only 14 players have won the regular season MVP award and followed it with an NBL championship. Among them, Chris Anstey stands out as the only player to achieve this feat twice, in 2006 and 2008.
NBL MVP and Championship Winners
Below is a list of players who have won both the NBL regular season MVP and the championship:
- Rocky Smith – 1980 (St Kilda Saints)
- Al Green – 1982 (West Adelaide Bearcats)
- Leroy Loggins (Co-MVP) – 1987 (Brisbane Bullets)
- Scott Fisher – 1989 (North Melbourne Giants)
- Andrew Gaze – 1997 (Melbourne Tigers)
- Paul Rogers – 2000 (Perth Wildcats)
- Chris Williams – 2003 (Sydney Kings)
- Matthew Nielsen – 2004 (Sydney Kings)
- Chris Anstey – 2006 (Melbourne Tigers)
- Sam McKinnon – 2007 (Brisbane Bullets)
- Chris Anstey – 2008 (Melbourne Tigers)
- Cedric Jackson – 2013 (New Zealand Breakers)
- Bryce Cotton – 2020 (Perth Wildcats)
- Jaylen Adams – 2022 (Sydney Kings)
- Xavier Cooks – 2023 (Sydney Kings)
A win with the 36ers would give Cotton his fourth NBL championship and make him the second player in NBL history to achieve the MVP x championship double in the same season. This achievement would solidify his place among the league’s greatest players and further enhance his legacy.
