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 a clear edge against JaVale McGee after six rounds. He’s not just scoring at an MVP level — he’s doing it efficiently, consistently, and carrying Adelaide’s offense while still creating for others.

basketball.com.au is in it for the long haul. We'll track both players By The Numbers across the rest of the season.

NBL26 Performance Tracker – Bryce Cotton vs JaVale McGee

• ‍Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 5-1)

GP: 7 I MIN: 36.1 I PPG: 29.4 I FGM: 9.6 I FGA: 18.9 I FG%: 50.8 I 3PM: 3.6 I 3PA: 7.9 I 3P%: 45.6 I FTM: 6.7 I FTA: 7.1 I FT%: 94.4 I OR: 1.0 I DR: 1.9 I REB: 2.9 I AST: 6.0 I TO: 3.0 I STL: 2.4 I BLK: 0.0 I PF: 0.9 I EFF: 25.1

• JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 2-5)

GP: 7 I MIN: 24.7 I PPG: 21.3 I FGM: 9.0 I FGA: 15.1 I FG%: 59.6 I 3PM: 0.0 I 3PA: 0.4 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 3.3 I FTA: 6.1 I FT%: 54.1 I OR: 3.8 I DR: 6.8 I REB: 10.6 I AST: 2.1 I TO: 3.1 I STL: 1.4 I BLK: 2.0 I PF: 3.3 I EFF: 25.4

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

• Game 3: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 0-3)‍

MIN: 21:53 I PTS: 19 I FGM: 6 I FGA: 9 I FG%: 66.7 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 1 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 7 I FTA: 10 I FT%: 70.0 I OR: 0 I DR: 3 I REB: 3 I AST: 5 I TO: 5 I STL: 0 I BLK: 3 I PF: 2 I +/-: 7 I EFF: 19

• Game 3: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 3-0)‍

MIN: 37:35 I PTS: 29 I FGM: 6 I FGA: 12 I FG%: 50.0 I 3PM: 3 I 3PA: 5 I 3P%: 60.0 I FTM: 14 I FTA: 15 I FT%: 93.3 I OR: 0 I DR: 2 I REB: 2 I AST: 9 I TO: 3 I STL: 3 I BLK: 0 I PF: 2 I +/-: 8 I EFF: 33

• Game 4: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 1-3)‍

MIN: 22:05 I PTS: 13 I FGM: 5 I FGA: 7 I FG%: 71.4 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 0 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 3 I FTA: 8 I FT%: 37.5 I OR: 3 I DR: 9 I REB: 12 I AST: 3 I TO: 3 I STL: 1 I BLK: 2 I PF: 3 I +/-: 6 I EFF: 21‍

• ‍Game 4: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 3-1)‍

MIN: 36:33 I PTS: 7 I FGM: 3 I FGA: 10 I FG%: 30.0 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 4 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 1 I FTA: 3 I FT%: 33.3 I OR: 1 I DR: 3 I REB: 4 I AST: 3 I TO: 2 I STL: 1 I BLK: 0 I PF: 1 I +/-: -23 I EFF: 4

• Game 5: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 4-1)‍

MIN: 30:56 I PTS: 28 I FGM: 10 I FGA: 23 I FG%: 43.5 I 3PM: 4 I 3PA: 10 I 3P%: 40.0 I FTM: 4 I FTA: 4 I FT%: 100 I OR: 2 I DR: 2 I REB: 4 I AST: 6 I TO: 4 I STL: 3 I BLK: 0 I PF: 2 I +/-: 4 I EFF: 24

• Game 6: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers 5-1)‍

MIN: 38:23 I PTS: 53 I FGM: 16 I FGA: 29 I FG%: 55.2 I 3PM: 5 I 3PA: 13 I 3P%: 38.5 I FTM: 16 I FTA: 16 I FT%: 100 I OR: 1 I DR: 1 I REB: 2 I AST: 5 I TO: 1 I STL: 1 I BLK: 0 I PF: 1 I +/-: 10 I EFF: 47

• Game 5: JaVale McGee (Illawarra Hawks 1-4)‍

MIN: 23:24 I PTS: 22 I FGM: 8 I FGA: 18 I FG%: 44.4 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 1 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 6 I FTA: 10 I FT%: 60.0 I OR: 4 I DR: 7 I REB: 11 I AST: 1 I TO: 2 I STL: 0 I BLK: 5 I PF: 5 I +/-: -6 I EFF: 23

• Game 6: JaVale McGee (Illawarra 2-4)‍

MIN: 27:47 I PTS: 24 I FGM: 11 I FGA: 18 I FG%: 61.1 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 1 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 2 I FTA: 4 I FT%: 50.0 I OR: 5 I DR: 6 I REB: 11 I AST: 1 I TO: 4 I STL: 3 I BLK: 1 I PF: 4 I +/-: 8 I EFF: 27

• Game 7: Bryce Cotton (5-2)‍

MIN: 38:35 I PTS: 22 I FGM: 7 I FGA: 17 I FG%: 41.2 I 3PM: 3 I 3PA: 6 I 3P%: 50.0 I FTM: 5 I FTA: 5 I FT%: 100 I OR: 0 I DR: 2 I REB: 2 I AST: 6 I TO: 6 I STL: 3 I BLK: 0 I PF: 0 I +/-: 4 I EFF: 17

• Game 7: JaVale McGee (Illawarra 2-5)‍

MIN: 16:32 I PTS: 13 I FGM: 6 I FGA: 14 I FG%: 42.9 I 3PM: 0 I 3PA: 0 I 3P%: 0.0 I FTM: 1 I FTA: 2 I FT%: 50.0 I OR: 6 I DR: 4 I REB: 10 I AST: 1 I TO: 2 I STL: 0 I BLK: 0 I PF: 1 I +/-: -29 I EFF: 13

The Story So Far

Bryce Cotton continues to define excellence in NBL26, averaging 29.4 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.4 steals on 50/45/94 shooting. He’s delivered explosive scoring nights and elite playmaking while commanding Adelaide’s tempo and offensive identity.

JaVale McGee has been a dominant interior presence, posting 21.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game on 59.6 percent shooting. His efficiency and rim protection anchor the Hawks at both ends, though limited minutes and free-throw struggles have slightly tempered his overall influence.

Both players remain pillars of NBL26 — Cotton’s perimeter brilliance vs McGee’s interior power — but Cotton’s balance of volume, efficiency, and control still gives him the clear upper hand entering Round 8.