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Cotton goes back-to-back-to-back to win sixth NBL MVP
SEN • February 24th, 2026 10:43 am
Adelaide 36ers superstar Bryce Cotton was honoured on Monday night, winning his sixth NBL MVP award and third in a row.
Cotton claimed the award by just two votes, pipping Sydney Kings star Kendric Davis in the tightest race in years.
Now with six MVPs, the only person to have won more is Andrew Gaze with seven, after whom the ‘Andrew Gaze NBL MVP’ is named.
After averaging 25.7 points and 7.6 assists in his first season in Adelaide, the 33-year-old says he wants to ride this journey as long as he can in Australia.
"I came a long way, man," Cotton told ESPN.
"I came a long way from Tucson, Arizona. At the time, in that city, not a lot of people made it out... I was blessed to be one of those few people, so I just want to continue to make the ride as long as I can. That's what motivates me."
Check out the full list of NBL26 award winners
Andrew Gaze NBL MVP: Bryce Cotton
All-NBL First Team: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide), John Brown III (SEM), Kendric Davis (Sydney), Kristian Doolittle (Perth), Nathan Sobey (SEM)
All-NBL Second Team: Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania), Jack McVeigh (Cairns), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (NZ), Xavier Cooks (Sydney), Zylan Cheatham (Adelaide)
Coach of the Year: Brian Goorjian (Sydney)
Defensive Player of the Year: John Brown III (SEM)
Sixth Man of the Year: Angus Glover (SEM)
Most Improved Player: Flynn Cameron (Adelaide)
Step One Next Generation Award: Sam Mennenga (New Zealand)
Executive of the Year: Nic Barbato (Adelaide)
Champion Fans' MVP: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide)
Gametime by Kmart Award: Malith Machar (Melbourne)
Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
Dunk of the Year: Sam Mennenga (NZ) vs SEM
Three-Pointer of the Year: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide) vs NZ
