Revealed: Jason Cadee's top 5 greatest NBL players ever

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Former Australian Boomers guard Jason Cadee has revealed his top five greatest NBL players of all-time on the back of six-time MVP Bryce Cotton taking another step towards chasing The GOAT Andrew Gaze.

Following the NBL Awards Night where Cotton won a controversial sixth MVP by just two points over Sydney Kings guard Kendric Davis to move within one of the Melbourne Tigers legend, Cadee spoke about where the current Adelaide 36ers and former Perth Wildcats superstar sat in the history of the league.

Speaking on the latest edition of Cut to the Jase, the man who spent 15 seasons and 424 games in the NBL, picked his top five players to ever compete in the league.

Cadee had Gaze still at the top of his list, followed by Cotton and then Brisbane Bullets icon Leroy Loggins - as did co-host of Cut to the Jase, Brayden Heslehurst.

But it was the fourth and fifth picks which differed between the pair.

Cadee selected Shane 'The Hammer' Heal in fourth spot followed by arguably the best rebounder in the league's history, Mark Bradtke to round out his top five.

"We start with Andrew Gaze and we start with Bryce Cotton - that's one and two because both, even if you look at Drewy, he only won a couple of times but he did so much and his numbers were ridiculous," Cadee said on the basketball.com.au podcast.

"Bryce is obviously doing his thing now where is he catching Drewy? If you ask someone who's a bit older they'd probably say no and if they ask someone who's younger they'd probably say he's already caught him. So that is what it is.

"I have Leroy Loggins, I think we all know Leroy's impact on the NBL, especially as an import coming out here and what he did for the game and what he did for Brisbane and just the type of player he was and his numbers stack up.

"Then my fourth and fifth was Shane Heal and Mark Bradtke. Just another two guys, they spent time overseas, they spent time in the NBL, they won titles, their impacts across many different teams... Like for Hammer, the scoring records he had, for Mark, the rebounds and everything else that went into it. I just think those five and it's a hard list to pick."

While Heslehurst had Sam Mackinnon, who had arguably the best individual season in the history of the league in 2007 by winning MVP as well as Defensive Player of the Year while leading the Bullets to the championship, followed by Wildcats legend in point guard and four-time champion as well as two-time Grand Final MVP Ricky Grace in fifth spot.

"(For my fourth) I've actually gone for someone we both know pretty well in Sammy Mackinnon. I just think the career he had spanning almost I think it was 17 years, won two championships, an MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and when he was at his peak, it was just incredible to watch," Heslehurst said.

"That was when I was just sort of starting to get to a point where I was really taking an interest in the NBL and basketball and everything, and if you look at that 2007 season, that might go down as the best individual season anyone has had, including winning the championship when the Bullets went on I think a 23-game winning streak to win the title.

"So I've got Sammy Mack in there, would have played in the NBA if he didn't have those knee troubles when he did.

"The fifth Jase, I've gone for another Wildcat in Ricky Grace... Four-time NBL champion, two-time grand final MVP, four-time All NBL First Team, has his number 15 jersey retired by the Wildcats, and by many until recently thought everyone thought he was the best Wildcat until Bryce Cotton eclipsed him.

"So, considering that's a really successful franchise, and just seeing the impact that Ricky Grace had on the league, that's my five."

Post your thoughts on our @bouncepass Instagram page and let us know who your top five is and who you agree with more out of the Cut to the Jase hosts.