Mennenga recognised for breakout season with Breakers

Shayne Hope, AAP • February 24th, 2026 6:00 am

Sam Mennenga in action for the Breakers | Photo: Photosport

NBL legend Bryce Cotton has added to his ever-growing legacy by claiming a sixth league MVP crown as he prepares to spearhead the Adelaide 36ers' championship bid.

Only Andrew Gaze (seven) has more MVP titles than Cotton, who was confirmed as the league's best player yet again with 96 votes at the annual awards ceremony in Melbourne on Monday night.

Sydney Kings guard Kendric Davis (94 votes) was a narrow second after his brilliant individual campaign, with Perth's Kristian Doolittle and South East Melbourne's Nathan Sobey tied for third on 59.

Cotton edged Davis in what had become a two-man race as the regular season progressed, averaging 25.7 points and 7.6 assists per game, and led second-placed Adelaide to a 23-10 record.

The 33-year-old won the Andrew Gaze Trophy five times in his eight years with the Perth Wildcats before his bombshell move to Adelaide this season.

Already a three-time NBL champion and dual grand final MVP, Cotton previously won the league's MVP award in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025.

"Same movie, different year. I've just got on a different jersey," Cotton quipped as he accepted his latest award.

"But honestly, man, being in Adelaide has been amazing."

Cotton has had a phenomenal first season with Adelaide after making the switch from Perth | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP

Cotton's split from Perth was the biggest story of the last NBL off-season, and his switch to Adelaide has paid off handsomely so far.

"It was crazy," Cotton said of the decision.

"I ain't never been a free agent before and coming off of my best season, at the time, in my life, I wanted to take the time to sort out my options.

"With a little bit of help from my old team I was able to take all the time I needed and luckily Adelaide came (out of) the blue.

"I have no complaints at all. I love where I'm at."

Davis put together a remarkable first season with regular-season champions Sydney (24-9) after his move from Adelaide.

The 26-year-old has averaged 24.4 points and 6.7 assists in 31.6 minutes per game this season - significantly less than Cotton's 37.9 minutes per game.

The American-born pair shape as key figures in this year's championship race, with the Sixers and Kings lying in wait for teams that advance from the play-in tournament, which begins on March 4.

Kendric Davis has starred for the Kings this year after joining from Adelaide | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP

"I wanna bust his ass every chance I get," Davis said of his fierce duels with Cotton.

"Nah, the respect is there. I grew up watching him.

"To be honest, MVP wasn't on my goals this year. It's just being part of a brotherhood and a family, and trying to show that I can win at the highest level.

"It feels nice, but every time I play him I'm trying to bust his ass."

Cotton was also voted the NBL fans' MVP and named in the All-NBL First Team, which included Davis, Sobey, Doolittle and John Brown III.

Kings coach Brian Goorjian won the Lindsay Gaze Trophy as coach of the year for the seventh time, a remarkable 34 years after he first claimed it.

SEM stopper Brown won the Damian Martin Trophy as the league's best defensive player and his Phoenix teammate Angus Glover was named best sixth man.

New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga won the Next Generation Award as the league's best young player and Adelaide's Flynn Cameron, son of Tall Blacks legend Pero Cameron, was named most improved.

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NBL Awards Voting

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

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

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

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