Secret weapon behind big riser in three-way fight for top gong: NBL MVP Power Rankings

The race for the NBL MVP award is intensifying as the season enters a decisive stretch, with the conversation increasingly centred around three elite guards leading the league’s hottest teams.

This latest edition of the NBL MVP Power Rankings also welcomes a new entrant into the top five, reflecting the shifting landscape as form and team success continue to shape the race.

With time running out to unseat five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton, the margin for error has all but disappeared. Performances from here on will carry significant weight in determining who ultimately claims the league’s most prestigious individual honour.

Here is the latest edition of the NBL MVP Power Rankings.

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5 | JAVALE MCGEE | ILLAWARRA HAWKS | PREVIOUS RANK: 4

JaVale McGee has continued his strong individual form throughout NBL26, playing a key role in the Illawarra Hawks’ recent performances. In the games McGee has featured in, the Hawks have posted a 3-2 record, with the club currently sitting seventh on the ladder at 8-13.

Across the season, McGee is averaging 21.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, two assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most productive big men. Since Round 12, his output has remained impressive, with averages of 20 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and two blocks per game in just 24.5 minutes per contest – slightly below his season minutes but still highly effective.

The recent return of Sam Froling has added another interior presence for the Hawks, and while the pairing shows promise, the combination will require time to fully develop and find consistency. Despite this adjustment, McGee has remained highly efficient, shooting 54.7 per cent from the field in recent weeks.

McGee’s slight drop in the rankings reflects Illawarra’s position outside the top six, along with several players above him producing elite form in recent rounds. The challenge now intensifies for the 37-year-old as he looks to help drive the Hawks into the finals picture and keep their hopes of a back-to-back championship alive in NBL26.

4 | XAVIER COOKS | SYDNEY KINGS | PREVIOUS RANK: UNRANKED

The 2022-23 NBL MVP Xavier Cooks makes his first appearance on the NBL26 MVP Power Rankings, with his recent form playing a significant role in the Sydney Kings’ surge up the ladder.

Across the season, Cooks is averaging 13.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting an efficient 62.6 per cent from the field. The only blemish on his campaign has been at the free-throw line, where he is converting just 44.8 per cent of his attempts.

Since Round 12, the Kings have been one of the league’s most dominant teams, posting a 5-2 record and sitting just outside the top three with two games in hand on Adelaide and Melbourne. During that stretch, Cooks has elevated his production, averaging 16.6 points, seven rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting an elite 74.2 per cent from the field.

Cooks’ influence on both ends of the floor has been critical. Offensively, he has thrived in a point-forward role, initiating sets and creating advantages, while defensively his versatility allows him to guard opposing bigs inside and switch seamlessly onto perimeter players. That two-way impact has helped relieve pressure on teammates higher up the rankings, allowing them to play with greater freedom and confidence.

Often overlooked in NBL discussions, Cooks’ current form – combined with the Kings’ resurgence – more than justifies his inclusion in the MVP conversation as the season enters a decisive phase.

3 | NATHAN SOBEY | SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX | PREVIOUS RANK: 3

Nathan Sobey is continuing to put together the best season of his NBL career in NBL26, highlighted by a career-high scoring output. Across the season, Sobey is averaging 21.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, with his recent form reinforcing his standing among the league’s elite guards.

Since Round 12, Sobey has elevated his production further, averaging 23.7 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals per game while shooting 47.9 per cent from the field and 38.3 per cent from three-point range. During that stretch, the South East Melbourne Phoenix have won four of their past five games, climbing into second place on the ladder with a 14-7 record.

Sobey’s growth as a playmaker has been just as significant as his scoring, with his assist numbers over the past three rounds reaching career-best levels. His all-around impact has been a direct driver of the Phoenix’s success this season, and if the club is to sustain its push toward the postseason, Sobey will remain the central figure in that charge.

2 | KENDRIC DAVIS | SYDNEY KINGS | PREVIOUS RANK: 2

Kendric Davis continues his ascent toward the top spot in the NBL26 MVP conversation, spearheading the Sydney Kings’ recent surge in form. Since Round 12, Davis has been outstanding, averaging 25.6 points, 7.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 43.9 per cent from the field and 33.3 per cent from three-point range.

Those numbers represent an increase across almost every major category compared to his season averages, with the exception of rebounds, which remain steady at 4.1 per game. Across the full season, Davis is averaging 23.2 points, 5.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. Notably, his three-point efficiency has trended upward over the past three rounds after sitting at 29.7 per cent across the season.

Davis’ impact extends beyond individual production. Like Xavier Cooks, he has been a driving force behind the Kings’ 5-2 record in recent rounds, setting the tone offensively while consistently creating advantages for teammates. Perhaps most impressive has been his ball security. Despite his high-usage role and aggressive play style, Davis is averaging just 1.7 turnovers per game in recent weeks and 1.6 turnovers per game for the season.

That figure represents a significant improvement from last season, when he averaged 3.1 turnovers per game with the Adelaide 36ers. While some of his raw numbers are still climbing back toward peak levels, the key distinction is where and how he is producing – doing so efficiently and under control on one of the most consistent teams in the NBL.

1 | BRYCE COTTON | ADELAIDE 36ERS | PREVIOUS RANK: 1

Bryce Cotton remains the benchmark and clear leader in the MVP conversation, and while several players are closing the gap statistically, the defining separator continues to be team success. Cotton is the driving force behind the Adelaide 36ers, who hold the league’s best record at 19-4.

Adelaide enters this stretch riding a five-game winning streak and has won 12 of its past 13 games, with Cotton once again at the centre of everything they do. His continued evolution from a scoring guard into a primary playmaker has been a defining storyline of recent weeks. Over that period, Cotton is averaging 24.4 points, 9.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and two steals per game, while shooting 40.7 per cent from the field and 37.5 per cent from three-point range.

While his scoring output sits slightly below his season average of 25.7 points per game, the growth in his playmaking has been significant. As opposing defences increasingly look to get the ball out of his hands and force turnovers, Cotton has remained composed, averaging just 2.6 turnovers per game despite his heavy usage.

More importantly, his impact continues to elevate those around him. Cotton has consistently put his teammates in positions to succeed, maximising the output of Adelaide’s big-man rotation while allowing Flynn Cameron and Dejan Vasiljevic to find rhythm and confidence on the offensive end.

With his play arguably at a career-best level, combined with a résumé that includes three NBL championships and five MVP awards, the case remains overwhelming. When weighing performance, leadership and team success, it is still incredibly difficult to look past the standard-bearer of the modern NBL era.