- Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night was held in Melbourne
- The MVP award is named after Gaze, who won the award four times
- Now, another player has also won the MVP crown four times
Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton can claim to be the second most decorated player in NBL history behind Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze after winning his fourth MVP award in the competition.
The Wildcats star has entered the GOAT discussion after drawing level with the Melbourne Tigers champions at The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night at CIEL The Venue in Melbourne.
It was an evening full of glitz and glamor to celebrate another successful year for the domestic basketball league, which once again set broadcast and audience records this season.
This included special guests in the form of three-time NBA champions from the Chicago Bulls, Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant.
Pippen launched the 2023/24 NBL season and returned to Australia in February for a speaking tour, alongside his championship-winning Chicago Bulls teammates, Australian Luc Longley and Grant.
Nigerian-born Australian singer-songwriter Timomatic was the musical talent at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night
The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night celebrated another successful year for the NBL, once again breaking audience and broadcast records
Chicago Bulls champions Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Australian Luc Longley were special guests at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night
Wives and girlfriends of NBL players pose for a photo during the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night
The audience was wowed by Australian singer and performer, Nigerian-born Australian singer-songwriter Timomatic, who rose to fame during the 2011 edition of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.
He performed some of his hits, including Set It Off, to thrill the crowd at the gala event.
Cotton claimed the competition’s top individual honor again on Monday evening, ahead of shortlisted New Zealand Breakers import Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Melbourne United marksman Chris Goulding.
Cotton joins Gaze as the only two players to win the MVP award more than three times, having previously claimed it in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
The Melbourne Tigers great Gaze won the award now named after him a record seven times, including five seasons in a row from 1994 to 1998.
Cotton led the NBL again this season – for the seventh time in eight years – with an average of 23.15 points per game.
Andrew Gaze (left) is an Australian basketball king and now Bryce Cotton is the only other player to have earned as many MVP awards as the former Melbourne Tigers champion
Tahjere McCall, Cairns’ Patrick Miller and Melbourne United’s Ian Clark arrive ahead of the 2024 NBL MVP Awards Night
Australian Boomers and Melbourne United veteran Brad Newly has called time on his decorated career with the NBL playoffs to be his final games in professional basketball
The 31-year-old American guard also averaged 4.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals, leading Perth (17-11) to second place on the ladder behind Melbourne.
Cotton missed the Wildcats’ loss to Tasmania on Sunday due to a knee injury, but he will certainly return for the final.
Despite Goulding being overlooked for the MVP gong, Melbourne did not go home empty-handed after the competition’s awards ceremony.
Dean Vickerman was named coach of the year for guiding United to the top of the regular season ladder after they finished seventh and missed the finals last year.
Goulding’s teammates Ian Clark and Shea Ili were also recognized, named best sixth man and best defensive player respectively.
Tasmania JackJumpers combo guard Sean Macdonald was named the competition’s most improved player, and Illawarra Hawks forward Sam Froling won the Next Generation Award.