Wildcats trio nominated for NBL awards

Four-time NBL MVP Cotton is the hot favourite to take out his fifth Andrew Gaze Trophy, making him just one away from the Australian basketball legend the award is named after.

Cotton is averaging a competition-high 27.7 points per game, including five 40-plus points games and a record-breaking 59 against New Zealand Breakers on December 1.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE AWARD NOMINEES

The prolific guard bounced back from a month on the sidelines with a rib injury to produce some of the best basketball of his already-decorated NBL career.

Young gun Henshall’s breakout NBL campaign has been recognised with nominations in two awards.

The 20-year-old WA product is not only on the shortlist for the Next Generation Award - alongside teammate and Spanish Next Star Izan Almansa - he’s also in line to take out the League’s Most Improved Player award.

Henshall has made the most of his increased opportunities in NBL25, becoming a regular starter for the Wildcats.

He’s averaged 10 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game to put himself in the mix for this year’s NBA Draft.

Almansa, another important contributor, is one of the other eight names in  contention for the Next Generation Award.

The Spanish youngster has impressed in his debut NBL season, averaging 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds.

The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night will be broadcast on Kayo and the NBL website from 4.30pm WST on Monday night.

All coaches are nominated for the Lindsay Gaze Trophy for Coach of the Year, while all players are eligible for the All-NBL First and Second teams. Other awards to be announced on the night are the Executive of the Year, Referee of the Year, Fans’ MVP, Gametime by Kmart Award, and Three Pointer of the Year.

AWARD NOMINEES

Andrew Gaze Trophy for Most Valuable Player

Bryce Cotton (Perth)

Chris Goulding (Melbourne)

Casey Prather (Brisbane)

Jaylen Adams (Sydney)

Kendric Davis (Adelaide)

Montrezl Harrell (Adelaide)

Matt Hurt (South East Melbourne)

Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand)

Sam Froling (Illawarra)

Tyler Harvey (Illawarra)

Trey Kell (Illawarra)

Xavier Cooks (Sydney)

Most Improved Player

Ben Henshall (Perth)

Kouat Noi (Sydney)

Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne)

Sam Waardenburg (Cairns)

Taran Armstrong (Cairns)

Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane)

Will Hickey (Illawarra)

Best Sixth Man

Cam Oliver (Sydney)

Ian Clark (Melbourne)

Kouat Noi (Sydney)

Marcus Lee (Melbourne)

Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne)

Will Hickey (Illawarra)

Damian Martin Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year

Matthew Dellavedova (Melbourne)

Marcus Lee (Melbourne)

Mitch Norton (Brisbane)

Shea Ili (Melbourne)

Will Magnay (Tasmania)

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Illawarra)

Xavier Cooks (Sydney)

Next Generation Award

Alex Toohey (Sydney)

Ben Henshall (Perth)

Izan Almansa (Perth)

Karim Lopez (New Zealand)

Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra)

Malique Lewis (South East Melbourne)

Taran Armstrong (Cairns)

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Illawarra)