Bryce Cotton has done it again.
Cotton was awarded the Andrew Gaze Trophy as the NBL's most valuable player for the third straight season — his sixth MVP honor since joining the professional basketball league in Australia.
The Tucson native and former Palo Verde High School basketball star is now one NBL MVP away from tying Gaze.
Cotton, who's now playing for the Adelaide 36ers, received his previous five NBL MVP honors with the Perth Wildcats, the team that helped kickstart his NBL career from 2017-25.
Cotton received 96 votes for the latest Andrew Gaze Trophy, edging Sydney Kings guard Kendric Davis, who received 94 votes after averaging the second-most points (24.4) in the NBL this season.
In his first season with Adelaide, Cotton is averaging a league-best 25.7 points, 5.9 made free-throws and 3.3 made 3-pointers per game. Cotton is also tied with Andrew Andrews, a standout guard for the Cairns Taipans and a former Washington Husky, for the most assists per game (7.6).
"I never take any of these awards for granted," Cotton said at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night. “We play in one of the best leagues in the world outside the NBA. Going to a new team, a new environment, is something I needed. Everyone’s amazing.
Tucson native and Palo Verde graduate Bryce Cotton was named MVP of Australia's NBL for the sixth time in his career.
Added Cotton: "My coaching staff and my teammates, I really rock with you all. This is the most I’ve ever talked with my teammates in any year in my time in the NBL. I love this league. It’s one of the best leagues in this world and I don’t take it for granted."
Following nine seasons with Perth, the Wildcats offered Cotton a contract that would pay him $1 million for the 2025-26 season, but Cotton opted to test free agency in May and signed with the Adelaide 36ers on a three-year deal worth just over $3 million, which is the largest contract in NBL history.
Cotton scored 39 points in his first game with Adelaide, which is a franchise record debut, and broke the franchise record for single-game scoring with 53 points in a win over Cairns less than a month later.
Cotton was also named a first-team All-NBL selection in his first season with the 36ers — and the ninth straight season. Cotton's teammate and former Arizona State forward Zylan Cheatham was named a second-team All-NBL choice after averaging 10.2 rebounds per game in the regular season.
Perth center Amida Brimah, left, sets a pick to trap Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris as Perth guard Bryce Cotton sets to shoot during the first half of an NBA exhibition game Oct. 5, 2018, in Denver.
Former Arizona point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright received All-NBL second-team honors after averaging 17.7 points and 7.5 assists with the New Zealand Breakers.
The 33-year-old Cotton has led the 36ers to the second-best record (23-10) in the NBL behind the top-seeded Kings (24-9). Adelaide will play the winner of third-seeded South East Melbourne and fourth-seeded Perth — setting up a potential matchup with Cotton's former team — in the semifinals of the NBL playoffs in March.
Cotton, who has carved out arguably the most illustrious overseas career by a Tucson product, has won three NBL championships in his career.
