Chicago Bulls champion Scottie Pippen, Timomatic shine at NBL awards as a new Aussie basketball GOAT is crowned

Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton can lay claim to being the second-most decorated player in NBL history behind Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze after winning his fourth league MVP award.

The Wildcats star has entered the GOAT discussion after drawing level with the Melbourne Tigers champion at the The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night at CIEL The Venue in Melbourne.

It was a night of glitz and glam to celebrate another successful year of the domestic basketball competition which set broadcast and crowd records again this season.

That included special guests in the form of Chicago Bulls three-time NBA champions Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. 

Pippen launched the 2023/24 NBL season and returned to Australia in February for a speaking tour, along with his championship winning Chicago Bulls teammates, Australian Luc Longley and Grant. 

Nigerian-born Australian singer-songwriter Timomatic was the musical talent at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night

Nigerian-born Australian singer-songwriter Timomatic was the musical talent at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night

The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night celebrated another successful year for the NBL with crowd and broadcast records again broken

The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night celebrated another successful year for the NBL with crowd and broadcast records again broken

Chicago Bulls champions Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Australia's own Luc Longley were special guests at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night

Chicago Bulls champions Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Australia’s own Luc Longley were special guests at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night

NBL player wives and girlfriends pose for a photo at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night

NBL player wives and girlfriends pose for a photo at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night

The crowd was rocked by Aussie singer and performer Nigerian-born Australian singer-songwriter Timomatic, who shot to fame in the 2011 edition of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.

He performed a number of his hits including Set It Off to thrill the crowd at the gala event.

Cotton claimed the league’s highest individual honour again on Monday night, ahead of shortlisted New Zealand Breakers import Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Melbourne United sharpshooter Chris Goulding.

Cotton joins Gaze as the only two players to have won the MVP award more than three times, having previously claimed it in 2018, 2020 and 2021.

Melbourne Tigers great Gaze won the award that is now named in his honour a record seven times, including five seasons in a row from 1994 to 1998.

Cotton led the NBL in scoring again this season – for the seventh time in eight years – averaging 23.15 points per game.

Andrew Gaze (left) is Australian basketball royalty and now Bryce Cotton is the only other player to earn as many MVP awards as the former Melbourne Tigers champion

Andrew Gaze (left) is Australian basketball royalty and now Bryce Cotton is the only other player to earn as many MVP awards as the former Melbourne Tigers champion

Tahjere McCall, Patrick Miller of Cairns and Ian Clark of Melbourne United arrive ahead of the the 2024 NBL MVP Awards Night

Tahjere McCall, Patrick Miller of Cairns and Ian Clark of Melbourne United arrive ahead of the the 2024 NBL MVP Awards Night

Australian Boomers and Melbourne United veteran Brad Newly has called time on his decorated career with the NBL playoffs to be his final games in professional basketball

Australian Boomers and Melbourne United veteran Brad Newly has called time on his decorated career with the NBL playoffs to be his final games in professional basketball

The 31-year-old American guard also averaged 4.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals, leading Perth (17-11) to second place on the ladder behind Melbourne.

Cotton missed the Wildcats’ defeat to Tasmania on Sunday because of a knee injury, but he is certain to return for the Finals.

Despite Goulding being overlooked for the MVP gong, Melbourne did not go home empty-handed from the league’s awards ceremony.

Dean Vickerman was named coach of the year for steering United to the top of the regular-season ladder after they finished seventh and missed the finals last year.

Goulding’s teammates Ian Clark and Shea Ili were also recognised, named best sixth man and best defensive player respectively.

Tasmania JackJumpers combo guard Sean Macdonald was named the league’s most improved player, and Illawarra Hawks forward Sam Froling won the Next Generation Award.

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