20
Nov
The Race
McGee vs Cotton: NBL26 Performances Tracker
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Illawarra Hawks import JaVale McGee and Adelaide 36ers star Bryce Cotton. Photos: Getty Images
Highlights
Bryce Cotton and JaVale McGee headline NBL26 MVP race after explosive and dominant performances.
- 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
Five-time MVP Bryce Cotton and three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee went head-to-head in the first game of NBL26 Round 10, with Cotton delivering a 31-point, 13-assist performance in Adelaide’s win, while McGee managed 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in Illawarra’s loss.
Cotton continues to set the standard for two-way offensive impact in NBL26, leading Adelaide to a 10–3 record while averaging 27.7 points and 6.8 assists across 13 games. His efficiency relative to usage remains unmatched, producing elite perimeter scoring while carrying the league’s heaviest offensive workload.
McGee, meanwhile, has been Illawarra’s most dominant interior force, averaging 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks on 57.8% shooting.
McGee’s efficiency and physical presence give him the edge in pure shot quality, but Cotton’s game-by-game influence — particularly in late-clock creation, playmaking and driving team success — places him ahead in overall value.
Using a role-adjusted model that weighs usage, efficiency, team impact and Game Score, Cotton scores 84/100 against McGee’s 62/100, reinforcing his status as the more complete and consistently influential player, while McGee remains the league’s most efficient big when Illawarra’s guards involve him.
Verdict
- Overall Edge – Bryce Cotton: Superior consistency and broader offensive versatility.
- Momentum Edge – Bryce Cotton: The Nov 19 head-to-head win decisively tilts short-term momentum back in his favour.
basketball.com.au is in it for the long haul. We’ll track both players By The Numbers throughout the rest of NBL26.
NBL26 Performance Tracker – Bryce Cotton vs JaVale McGee
- Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 10-3)
GP: 13 │ MIN: 37.0 │ PTS: 27.7 │ FGM: 8.5 │ FGA: 19.0 │ FG%: 44.9% │ 3PM: 4.1 │ 3PA: 9.6 │ 3P%: 42.4% │ FTM: 6.5 │ FTA: 7.5 │ FT%: 87.6% │ REB: 3.1 │ AST: 6.8 │ TO: 2.6 │ STL: 2.3 │ BLK: 0.2 │ PF: 1.2 │ EFF: 44.3
- JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 4-8)
GP: 12 │ MIN: 26.0 │ PTS: 21.0 │ FGM: 8.7 │ FGA: 15.0 │ FG%: 57.8% │ 3PM: 0.3 │ 3PA: 0.9 │ 3P%: 36.4% │ FTM: 3.3 │ FTA: 5.3 │ FT%: 63.5% │ REB: 10.3 │ AST: 2.1 │ STL: 1.3 │ BLK: 2.0 │ TO: 3.0 │ PF: 3.0 │ EFF: 43.0
NBL26 Box Scores
Game 1: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 0–1)
- Sep 27 – ILL vs TAS — L 86–91: MIN: 30:44 │ PTS: 32 │ FGM: 15 │ FGA: 20 │ FG%: 75 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 0 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 2 │ FTA: 2 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 3 │ DR: 10 │ REB: 13 │ AST: 2 │ TO: 4 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 3 │ PF: 3 │ +/-: -2 │ EFF: 43
Game 1: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 1–0)
- Sep 28 – ADE vs BRI — W 87–80: MIN: 36:59 │ PTS: 39 │ FGM: 14 │ FGA: 23 │ FG%: 60.9 │ 3PM: 6 │ 3PA: 9 │ 3P%: 66.7 │ FTM: 5 │ FTA: 5 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 3 │ REB: 3 │ AST: 6 │ TO: 3 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 1 │ +/-: 8 │ EFF: 37
Game 2: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 2–0)
- Oct 2 – ADE @ TAI — W 110–79: MIN: 35:11 │ PTS: 28 │ FGM: 11 │ FGA: 18 │ FG%: 61.1 │ 3PM: 4 │ 3PA: 8 │ 3P%: 50.0 │ FTM: 2 │ FTA: 2 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 3 │ REB: 3 │ AST: 7 │ TO: 2 │ STL: 5 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 0 │ +/-: 34 │ EFF: 34
Game 2: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 0–2)
- Oct 2 – ILL @ PER — L 84–92: MIN: 28:05 │ PTS: 26 │ FGM: 12 │ FGA: 20 │ FG%: 60.0 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 1 │ 3P%: 0.0 │ FTM: 2 │ FTA: 7 │ FT%: 28.6 │ OR: 4 │ DR: 10 │ REB: 14 │ AST: 2 │ TO: 2 │ STL: 4 │ BLK: 1 │ PF: 5 │ +/-: -1 │ EFF: 32
Game 3: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 0–3)
- Oct 8 – ILL @ NZB — L 88–117: MIN: 21:53 │ PTS: 19 │ FGM: 6 │ FGA: 9 │ FG%: 66.7 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 1 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 7 │ FTA: 10 │ FT%: 70 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 3 │ REB: 3 │ AST: 5 │ TO: 5 │ STL: 0 │ BLK: 3 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: -29 │ EFF: 17
Game 3: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 3–0)
- Oct 9 – ADE vs TAS — W 98–89: MIN: 37:35 │ PTS: 29 │ FGM: 6 │ FGA: 12 │ FG%: 50 │ 3PM: 3 │ 3PA: 5 │ 3P%: 60 │ FTM: 14 │ FTA: 15 │ FT%: 93.3 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 2 │ REB: 2 │ AST: 9 │ TO: 3 │ STL: 3 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: 9 │ EFF: 34
Game 4: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 3–1)
- Oct 11 – ADE vs SYD — L 79–103: MIN: 36:33 │ PTS: 7 │ FGM: 3 │ FGA: 10 │ FG%: 30 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 4 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 1 │ FTA: 3 │ FT%: 33.3 │ OR: 1 │ DR: 3 │ REB: 4 │ AST: 3 │ TO: 2 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 1 │ +/-: -24 │ EFF: -2
Game 4: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 1–3)
- Oct 11 – ILL vs BRI — W 116–89: MIN: 22:05 │ PTS: 13 │ FGM: 5 │ FGA: 7 │ FG%: 71.4 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 0 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 3 │ FTA: 8 │ FT%: 37.5 │ OR: 3 │ DR: 9 │ REB: 12 │ AST: 3 │ TO: 3 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 2 │ PF: 3 │ +/-: 27 │ EFF: 27
Game 5: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 4–1)
- Oct 16 – ADE vs SEM — W 88–71: MIN: 30:56 │ PTS: 28 │ FGM: 10 │ FGA: 23 │ FG%: 43.5 │ 3PM: 4 │ 3PA: 10 │ 3P%: 40 │ FTM: 4 │ FTA: 4 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 2 │ DR: 2 │ REB: 4 │ AST: 6 │ TO: 4 │ STL: 3 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: 17 │ EFF: 45
Game 5: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 1–4)
- Oct 18 – ILL @ SEM — L 76–116: MIN: 23:24 │ PTS: 22 │ FGM: 8 │ FGA: 18 │ FG%: 44.4 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 1 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 6 │ FTA: 10 │ FT%: 60 │ OR: 4 │ DR: 7 │ REB: 11 │ AST: 1 │ TO: 2 │ STL: 0 │ BLK: 5 │ PF: 5 │ +/-: -27 │ EFF: 23
Game 6: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 5–1)
- Oct 18 – ADE @ CAI — W 91–86: MIN: 38:23 │ PTS: 53 │ FGM: 16 │ FGA: 29 │ FG%: 55.2 │ 3PM: 5 │ 3PA: 13 │ 3P%: 38.5 │ FTM: 16 │ FTA: 16 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 1 │ DR: 1 │ REB: 2 │ AST: 5 │ TO: 1 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 1 │ +/-: 5 │ EFF: 46
Game 6: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 2–4)
- Oct 25 – ILL @ PER — W 85–84: MIN: 27:47 │ PTS: 24 │ FGM: 11 │ FGA: 18 │ FG%: 61.1 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 1 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 2 │ FTA: 4 │ FT%: 50 │ OR: 5 │ DR: 6 │ REB: 11 │ AST: 1 │ TO: 4 │ STL: 3 │ BLK: 1 │ PF: 4 │ +/-: 1 │ EFF: 30
Game 7: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 5–2)
- Oct 26 – ADE @ MEL — L 80–81: MIN: 38:35 │ PTS: 22 │ FGM: 7 │ FGA: 17 │ FG%: 41.2 │ 3PM: 3 │ 3PA: 6 │ 3P%: 50 │ FTM: 5 │ FTA: 5 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 2 │ REB: 2 │ AST: 6 │ TO: 6 │ STL: 3 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 0 │ +/-: -1 │ EFF: 18
Game 7: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 2–5)
- Oct 31 – ILL vs NZB — L 60–102: MIN: 16:32 │ PTS: 13 │ FGM: 6 │ FGA: 14 │ FG%: 42.9 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 0 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 1 │ FTA: 2 │ FT%: 50 │ OR: 6 │ DR: 4 │ REB: 10 │ AST: 1 │ TO: 2 │ STL: 0 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 1 │ +/-: -42 │ EFF: 17
Game 7: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 6–2)
- Nov 2 – ADE vs ILL — W 90–88: MIN: 38:02 │ PTS: 24 │ FGM: 5 │ FGA: 14 │ FG%: 35.7 │ 3PM: 3 │ 3PA: 11 │ 3P%: 27.3 │ FTM: 11 │ FTA: 14 │ FT%: 78.6 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 3 │ REB: 3 │ AST: 9 │ TO: 4 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 1 │ +/-: 2 │ EFF: 43
Game 8: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 2–6)
- Nov 2 – ILL @ ADE — L 88–90: MIN: 32:38 │ PTS: 17 │ FGM: 8 │ FGA: 14 │ FG%: 57.1 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 1 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 1 │ FTA: 1 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 2 │ DR: 9 │ REB: 11 │ AST: 6 │ TO: 3 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 1 │ PF: 3 │ +/-: -6 │ EFF: 45
Game 9: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 3–6)
- Nov 5 – ILL vs MEL — W 107–93: MIN: 31:26 │ PTS: 37 │ FGM: 13 │ FGA: 21 │ FG%: 61.9 │ 3PM: 1 │ 3PA: 1 │ 3P%: 100 │ FTM: 10 │ FTA: 11 │ FT%: 90.9 │ OR: 5 │ DR: 9 │ REB: 14 │ AST: 1 │ TO: 3 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 1 │ PF: 4 │ +/-: 14 │ EFF: 40
Game 10: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 4–6)
- Nov 7 – ILL @ TAI — W 107–90: MIN: 24:38 │ PTS: 28 │ FGM: 12 │ FGA: 13 │ FG%: 92.3 │ 3PM: 2 │ 3PA: 2 │ 3P%: 100 │ FTM: 2 │ FTA: 3 │ FT%: 66.7 │ OR: 2 │ DR: 4 │ REB: 6 │ AST: 2 │ TO: 4 │ STL: 0 │ BLK: 1 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: 17 │ EFF: 32
Game 9: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 7–2)
- Nov 6 – ADE @ NZB — W 83–79: MIN: 38:17 │ PTS: 23 │ FGM: 7 │ FGA: 18 │ FG%: 38.9 │ 3PM: 4 │ 3PA: 11 │ 3P%: 36.4 │ FTM: 5 │ FTA: 8 │ FT%: 62.5 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 1 │ REB: 1 │ AST: 6 │ TO: 2 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: 4 │ EFF: 20
Game 10: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 7–3)
- Nov 9 – ADE vs PER — L 87–94: MIN: 38:39 │ PTS: 23 │ FGM: 8 │ FGA: 24 │ FG%: 33.3 │ 3PM: 7 │ 3PA: 13 │ 3P%: 53.8 │ FTM: 0 │ FTA: 0 │ FT%: – │ OR: 2 │ DR: 3 │ REB: 5 │ AST: 7 │ TO: 3 │ STL: 3 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 0 │ +/-: -7 │ EFF: 25
Game 11: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 8–3)
- Nov 13 – ADE @ TAS — W 97–86: MIN: 32:56 │ PTS: 12 │ FGM: 2 │ FGA: 10 │ FG%: 20.0 │ 3PM: 1 │ 3PA: 6 │ 3P%: 16.7 │ FTM: 7 │ FTA: 7 │ FT%: 100 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 7 │ REB: 7 │ AST: 4 │ TO: 4 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: 11 │ EFF: 17
Game 11: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 4–7)
- Nov 16 – ILL vs SYD — L 71–98: MIN: 21:00 │ PTS: 9 │ FGM: 4 │ FGA: 8 │ FG%: 50.0 │ 3PM: 1 │ 3PA: 1 │ 3P%: 100 │ FTM: 0 │ FTA: 0 │ FT%: – │ OR: 2 │ DR: 7 │ REB: 9 │ AST: 1 │ TO: 4 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 2 │ PF: 5 │ +/-: -27 │ EFF: 8
Game 12: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 9–3)
- Nov 16 – ADE vs CAI — W 105–101 (OT): MIN: 42:35 │ PTS: 41 │ FGM: 11 │ FGA: 27 │ FG%: 40.7 │ 3PM: 7 │ 3PA: 19 │ 3P%: 36.8 │ FTM: 12 │ FTA: 13 │ FT%: 92.3 │ OR: 1 │ DR: 0 │ REB: 1 │ AST: 8 │ TO: 0 │ STL: 4 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: 4 │ EFF: 34
Game 12: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 4–8)
- Nov 19 – ILL @ ADE — L 85–97: MIN: 31:54 │ PTS: 12 │ FGM: 4 │ FGA: 18 │ FG%: 22.2 │ 3PM: 0 │ 3PA: 2 │ 3P%: 0 │ FTM: 4 │ FTA: 5 │ FT%: 80 │ OR: 2 │ DR: 8 │ REB: 10 │ AST: 0 │ TO: 0 │ STL: 1 │ BLK: 4 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: -12 │ EFF: 42
Game 13: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 10–3)
- Nov 19 – ADE vs ILL — W 97–85: MIN: 35:47 │ PTS: 31 │ FGM: 11 │ FGA: 22 │ FG%: 50 │ 3PM: 6 │ 3PA: 10 │ 3P%: 60 │ FTM: 3 │ FTA: 5 │ FT%: 60 │ OR: 0 │ DR: 3 │ REB: 3 │ AST: 13 │ TO: 0 │ STL: 2 │ BLK: 0 │ PF: 2 │ +/-: 20 │ EFF: 36
