John Mooney wins 2021 Gordon Ellis Medal

John Mooney has been awarded the Gordon Ellis Medal for the Perth Wildcats Most Valuable of the 2021 NBL Season.

He accepted the honour via video in front of 1,000 guests at the Perth Wildcats MVP Ball, held at the Crown Towers Ballroom on Thursday evening.

Mooney becomes the first player to win the award while competing in his first professional season since James Ennis in 2014, and just the second to do so in Wildcats history.

After signing with the Wildcats, the now 23-year-old went on to have a year any seasoned veteran of the NBL would be envious of.

Mooney averaged a double-double, becoming the first Wildcat to do that since Paul Rogers in 2007, and finished the season with a phenomenal total of 27 double-double performances – the second most in a season by a Wildcat.

His 11.4 rebounds per game is the eighth highest in club history and by far the most since the game shortened from 48 to 40 minutes in 2009.

The American grabbed a total of 480 rebounds, which is the third-most in a single season in NBL history.

2021 saw the Perth Wildcats play the equal most games of any team in an NBL season in history (along with Melbourne United), and John Mooney played a major role in all 42 of them.

The Gordon Ellis Medal is voted on by three Perth Wildcats coaches, a former player and a member of the basketball media.

Following each game, all five vote for their top-three Wildcats of that game, with the best player receiving three votes.

Finals games are included in the tally

Congratulations to John Mooney, 2021 Gordon Ellis Medalist for Perth Wildcats Most Valuable Player!

In other awards announced at the Perth Wildcats MVP Ball, Mitch Norton was honored with the Andrew Vlahov Medal for Best Defensive Player.

Norton set the tone on the defensive end and put his body on the line all season, locking down opposition stars on a regular basis.

The vice-captain also took out the Eric Watterson Medal for the “Players’ Player”, an award voted on by the players themselves as someone who they believe best embodies the team’s values.

Norton averaged 8.2 points and 3.6 assists per game.

Young gun Luke Travers was named Most Improved Player for his exciting 2021 season.

In his second year as a development player, Travers played in 40 games, averaging 4.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

In a game touted as the best ever performance from a development player, Travers starred in the Wildcats must-win Semi-Final Game Two win over the Hawks in Wollongong with 13 points and 10 rebounds,

Three-time Wildcats champion Tom Jervis took out the Coaches’ Award for his role in 2021 – lifting his teammates up and being an important voice both on and off the court.

2021 Gordon Ellis Medal Top Three

John Mooney (407 votes)

Bryce Cotton (352 votes)

Mitch Norton (176 votes)

Eric Watterson Medal – Players’ Player: Mitch Norton

Andrew Vlahov Medal – Best Defensive: Mitch Norton

Most Improved Player: Luke Travers

Coaches’ Award: Tom Jervis

Members MVP: Bryce Cotton