McGee vs Cotton: NBL26 Performances Tracker

• ‍Case Closed: McGee already the best player in the league‍
• Bryce Cotton's drive for five makes history‍
• Blue instead of Red but same MVP Bryce Cotton

"Bryce Cotton has entered the chat." That's the note one of my basketball.com.au colleagues sent to me after penning JaVale McGee is "already the best player in the league" earlier this week.

There is little doubt Cotton, a five-time NBL MVP, and McGee, a three-time NBA champion, are already on All-NBL First Team pace and in a two-horse race for NBL26 MVP.

Cotton, 33, is on a mission and has dominated both Adelaide's wins while McGee has two monster double-doubles in Illawarra's two losses. Debate will boil for the remainder of the season between MVP and Best Player in the League: see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Nikola Jokic.

Purely by the numbers, right now, Cotton is edging McGee for the best start to NBL26 because his combination of elite scoring, efficiency and playmaking. McGee has been phenomenal, but Cotton’s ability to dominate the scoreboard and create for others gives him the "MVP" edge after two rounds when taking into account the win-loss record.

basketball.com.au is in it for the long haul. We'll track both players By The Numbers across the next 31 games.

NBL26 Performance Tracker – Bryce Cotton vs JaVale McGee

• ‍Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers)
  GP: 2 I PPG: 33.5 I FGA: 20.5 I FGM: 12.5 I FG%: 61 I 3PA: 8.5 I 3PM: 5.0 I 3P%: 59 I FTA: 3.5 I FTM: 3.5 I FT%: 100 I APG: 6.5 I BPG: 0.0 I SPG: 3.0 I TPG: 2.5 I RPG: 3.0 I PF: 0.5 I SC: 180.5‍
• JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks)
  GP: 2 I PPG: 29.0 I FGA: 13.5 I FGM: 9.2 I FG%: 68 I 3PA: 0.5 I 3PM: 0.0 I 3P%: – I FTA: 4.5 I FTM: 2.0 I FT%: 44 I APG: 2.0 I BPG: 2.0 I SPG: 3.0 I TPG: 3.0 I RPG: 13.5 I PF: 2.5 I SC: 188.5

NBL26 Box Scores

• ‍Game 1: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 0-1)
  ‍MIN: 30:44 I PTS: 32 I FGM: 15 I FGA: 20 I FG%: 75 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 0 I 3P%: 0 I FTM: 2 I FTA: 2 I FT%: 100 I OR: 3 I DR: 10 I REB: 13 I AST: 2 I TO: 4 I STL: 2 I BLK: 3 I PF: 3 I +/-: -2 I EFF: 43
• Game 1: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 1-0)
  MIN: 36:59 I PTS: 39 I FGM: 14 I FGA: 23 I FG%: 60.9 I 3PM: 6 I 3PA: 9 I 3P%: 66.7 I FTM: 5 I FTA: 5 I FT%: 100 I OR: 0 I DR: 3 I REB: 3 I AST: 6 I TO: 3 I STL: 1 I BLK: 0 I PF: 1 I +/-: 8 I EFF: 37
• Game 2: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 2-0)
  MIN: 35:11 I PTS: 28 I FGM: 11 I FGA: 18 I FG%: 61.1 I 3PM: 4 I 3PA: 8 I 3P%: 50.0 I FTM: 2 I FTA: 2 I FT%: 100 I OR: 0 I DR: 3 I REB: 3 I AST: 7 I TO: 2 I STL: 5 I BLK: 0 I PF: 0 I +/-: 34 I EFF: 34
• Game 2: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 0-2)
  MIN: 28:05 I PTS: 26 I FGM: 12 I FGA: 20 I FG%: 60.0 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 1 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 2 I FTA: 7 I FT%: 28.6 I OR: 4 I DR: 10 I REB: 14 I AST: 2 I TO: 2 I STL: 4 I BLK: 1 I PF: 5 I +/-: -1 I EFF: 32

The Story So Far

Bryce Cotton has been the most dominant scorer in the league, averaging 33.5 PPG on absurd shooting splits while also facilitating (6.5 assists) and taking care of the ball. He’s the engine of Adelaide’s offense and sets the pace for guards across the competition.

JaVale McGee has been a force of nature inside, producing 29.0 PPG and 13.5 RPG with elite efficiency and rim protection. However, his free-throw struggles and high foul count slightly reduce his overall impact.