Goorjian: MVP race 'not over' as Kings win 10th straight

• 2025-26 NBL Team Lists and Roster Tracker
• How to watch every NBL game in the 2025-26 season
• Interactive and live NBL Scores and Schedule here

The Sydney Kings are rolling, and so is Kendric Davis' push to oust Bryce Cotton as the NBL's most valuable player.

After leading the Kings to their 10th consecutive victory with a 102-84 win over the Perth Wildcats at Qudos Bank Arena, Davis's coach Brian Goorjian, responded to comments from Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells saying the race was over following Cotton's performance against the New Zealand Breakers.

"I don't want to get into this... my father, when I got in sport, I remember (I said) 'dad, I really want to be first team all league' as we're going into our season and he said 'you can only control what you do, you can't control if other people's opinion, you can't control that, all you can do is put your best effort forward'," he said post-game.

"And I think that's where this sits.

"It's kind of put me in a position after yesterday, listening, like I got to bring my guy to this. There was such a push, such a strong push but in our mind, we started this season, no one had us in the top four coming in and what's happened, we have a chance as we sit right now, as we sit today, we're on top of the ladder, we've played them four times., we've beaten them three.

"(Kendric's) having a season. We're talking about Kendrick Davis. He's having a season that goes down in Sydney King's history as one of the best individual performances of any player to put on this uniform.

"Then this whole aspect of him as a leader, him as a person, all of that came across as well. So he's ticked a lot of boxes and when I do this, I feel uncomfortable with it because it's but I look at the guys on the team, it's like my son.

"No, it's not over, and we have a chance to finish on top, we're still playing. The captains and the players vote, they have a board and no one's voted yet and (Cotton's) had an unbelievable season. I also feel, just put it on, Doolittle is a stud, Sobes having a year like no other, as is their team.

"We wouldn't trade Kendrick for anybody and we're having a stellar regular season, so he is definitely in the mix, and he's definitely special."

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 102 def. Perth Wildcats 84
• When: 15th February 2026
• Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
• Standings: View NBL standings

By the Numbers

• Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) starred with 30 points, five rebounds and 10 assists in 32 minutes.
• Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) scored 19 points and had nine rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established early control with a 28-29 first quarter before truly taking command in the second period. Sydney outscored Perth 27-16 in the second quarter to build a 55-45 halftime advantage, setting the foundation for their dominant display. The hosts maintained their momentum throughout the second half, winning the third quarter 24-19 and closing out with a 23-20 final period to secure the comprehensive 18-point victory.

Sydney's offensive efficiency proved the decisive factor in this contest. The Kings shot an outstanding 51% from the field (39-from-76), while Perth struggled with a disappointing 38% shooting performance (29-from-77). The disparity was even more pronounced from downtown, where Sydney connected on 14-from-29 attempts (48%) compared to Perth's dismal 8-from-38 (21%) from beyond the arc.

Davis delivered a stellar performance that epitomised Sydney's balanced attack. The point guard was exceptional from the field, shooting 11-from-17 including an impressive 6-from-9 from three-point range. His court vision was equally impressive, dishing out 10 dimes while committing just two turnovers. Supporting Davis brilliantly, Makuach Maluach contributed 18 points on efficient 6-from-10 shooting, including 3-from-4 from deep. Xavier Cooks and Tim Soares each added 14 points, with Cooks grabbing 10 boards for a double-double and Soares connecting on 2-from-3 triples.

For Perth, Doolittle battled gamely with his 19-point effort but received limited support from his teammates. Dontae Russo-Nance was efficient with 12 points on 5-from-6 shooting, while Elijah Pepper managed 14 points despite struggling with his shot selection, going just 4-from-12 from the field. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr added 12 points but shot a poor 4-from-11, highlighting Perth's overall offensive struggles.

The Kings' superior ball movement and shot selection reflected their dominance throughout. Sydney recorded 24 assists compared to Perth's 13, showcasing the fluid offensive system that generated quality scoring opportunities. Defensively, Sydney forced Perth into difficult shots, with the Wildcats managing just six assists in the first three quarters. The Kings controlled the paint effectively, outrebounding Perth 50-40 while limiting second-chance opportunities.