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21
Sep
Point Gods
Every NBL27 star guard, tracked from tip-off to finals
Arnas Velicka, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis and Cole Anthony. Photos: Getty Images
Highlights
SuperCoach NBL points and box score numbers for the guards shaping the NBL27 season.
- All 165 games of the NBL27 season in one list
- Every NBL27 roster, squad list and projected depth chart
- Every injured NBL player, with expected return dates
Six-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton knows he will be forever linked to seven-time MVP and Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze.
If Cotton, 34, ties Gaze, 61, with his seventh at the end of NBL27 it would arguably been one of his toughest given the depth of talent, not just at the guard spot but in every position.
"No, but you know what’s funny?" Cotton said when asked by SEN Radio last week if he felt the pressure of winning another.
"After I think I got my fourth, every time they’ve just been mentioning Gaze’s name ever since.
“'Is he going to get five?' Gets five. 'Is he going to get six?' So, of course, now everybody is, you know, 'Am I going to tie him?'
"But, you know, time tells all. But as I always say about Gaze, you know, we’re two (Big East) boys.
"He’s never going to hear me say a bad word about him or nothing like that, so it’s all respect."
All 10 NBL clubs have an elite lead guard. NBL26 Grand Final MVP Kendric Davis, a two-time MVP runner-up to Cotton, is back to defend the Kings' crown, Melbourne United secured NBA point guard Cole Anthony while New Zealand Breakers point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright has clearly come to the play in NBL27.
The Wildcats are now desperately waiting on NBA journeyman Brandon Knight to arrive.
Former Sydney Kings captain and now NBL colour commentator Brad Rosen said: "I had the luxury to play some of the greatest guards ever.
"Gaze, Copes, Rucker, D-Mac , Grace but this crop is unbelievable. The speed, the skill and the way the game slows down for them is just so fun to watch."
Brisbane Bullets head coach Will Weaver has described it as a "murderers' row" and he's right.
basketball.com.au is as fascinated by the rivalries even though Cotton declared he has none – so we will track the 10 guards all season long.
NBL27 Star Guard Tracker
| # | Player | Team | SC pts | SC price | GP | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parker Jackson-Cartwright | Breakers | 59 | $405,200 | 1 | 36:17 | 23 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 17 | 41.2 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 9 | 10 | 90.0 |
| 2 | Kendric Davis | Kings | 46 | $436,000 | 1 | 29:08 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 47.4 | 3 | 8 | 37.5 | 5 | 9 | 55.6 |
| 3 | Bryce Cotton | 36ers | 42 | $473,900 | 1 | 37:03 | 29 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 47.4 | 4 | 9 | 44.4 | 7 | 7 | 100.0 |
| 4 | Cole Anthony | United | 34 | $300,000 | 1 | 21:50 | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 47.6 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 7 | 9 | 77.8 |
| 5 | Skylar Mays | Phoenix | 26 | $277,000 | 1 | 28:47 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 35.7 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 | 6 | 7 | 85.7 |
| 6 | Milton Doyle | Hawks | 25 | $274,700 | 1 | 26:53 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 16.7 | 0 | 5 | 0.0 | 6 | 7 | 85.7 |
| 7 | Jaylon Brown | Taipans | 21 | $277,000 | 1 | 27:59 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 25.0 | 1 | 8 | 12.5 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 |
| 8 | Brandon Knight | Wildcats | – | $277,000 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9 | Arnas Velicka | Bullets | – | $277,000 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | Taran Armstrong | JackJumpers | – | $304,700 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
