{"id":139575,"date":"2025-09-13T06:45:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T06:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/139575\/"},"modified":"2025-09-13T06:45:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T06:45:11","slug":"nbl26-predictions-from-the-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/139575\/","title":{"rendered":"NBL26 predictions from the experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s that time of year again, when our experts get out the crystal ball and make their early predictions for all the key awards, trophies and accolades ahead of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 Season.<\/p>\n

According to our panel, a new champion is set to be crowned this year, while a superstar is tipped to run it back again.<\/p>\n

Check out all the predictions below, and don’t forget to watch every game of the NBL26 Season, live on ESPN from Thursday, September 18.<\/p>\n

>> Download the free NBL App for live scores, stats and breaking news<\/a>\u200d<\/p>\n

Top 4<\/p>\n

(in no order)<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Melbourne United, Sydney Kings
Ariana Prather \u2013 Adelaide 36ers, Sydney Kings, Melbourne United, Brisbane Bullets
Brad Rosen \u2013 Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings
Damon Lowery \u2013 Illawarra Hawks, Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats, Tasmania JackJumpers
Derek Rucker \u2013 Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers, Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 Adelaide 36ers, Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, Perth Wildcats
Jack Heverin \u2013 Tasmania JackJumpers, Sydney Kings, Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers
Jo Healy \u2013 Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings, Cairns Taipans
John Casey \u2013 Illawarra Hawks, Adelaide 36ers, Tasmania JackJumpers, Melbourne United
Lachie Reid \u2013 Melbourne United, Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats, Sydney Kings
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Illawarra Hawks, Melbourne United, Tasmania JackJumpers, Perth Wildcats
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Melbourne United, Sydney Kings, Adelaide 36ers, Perth Wildcats
Pete Hooley \u2013 Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers, Tasmania JackJumpers, Melbourne United
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Perth Wildcats, Adelaide 36ers, Illawarra Hawks, Melbourne United<\/p>\n

Most votes: Adelaide 36ers \u2013 12, Melbourne United \u2013 12, Perth Wildcats \u2013 10, Sydney Kings \u2013 9, Tasmania JackJumpers \u2013 4, Illawarra Hawks \u2013 3, Cairns Taipans \u2013 1, Brisbane Bullets \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
Champions<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 Adelaide 36ers
Ariana Prather \u2013 Adelaide 36ers
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 Adelaide 36ers
Jo Healy \u2013 Adelaide 36ers
Brad Rosen \u2013 Melbourne United
Derek Rucker \u2013 Melbourne United
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Melbourne United
John Casey \u2013 Illawarra Hawks
Damon Lowery \u2013 Illawarra Hawks
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Illawarra Hawks
Pete Hooley \u2013 Perth Wildcats
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Perth Wildcats
Lachie Reid \u2013 Perth Wildcats
Jack Heverin \u2013 Tasmania JackJumpers<\/p>\n

Most votes: Adelaide 36ers \u2013 4, Melbourne United \u2013 3, Illawarra Hawks \u2013 3, Perth Wildcats \u2013 3, Tasmania JackJumpers \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
MVP<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Ariana Prather \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Brad Rosen \u2013 Kendric Davis
Damon Lowery \u2013 Xavier Cooks
Derek Rucker \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 Kendric Davis
Jack Heverin \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Jo Healy \u2013 Bryce Cotton
John Casey \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Lachie Reid \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Pete Hooley \u2013 Bryce Cotton
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Kendric Davis<\/p>\n

Most votes: Bryce Cotton \u2013 9, Kendric Davis \u2013 3, Xavier Cooks \u2013 1, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
All NBL First Team<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Kristian Doolittle, JaVale McGee
Ariana Prather \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Casey Prather, Jack McVeigh, Montrezl Harrell
Brad Rosen \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Kristian Doolittle, Izaiah Brockington
Damon Lowery \u2013 Tyler Harvey, Bryce Hamilton, Izaiah Brockington, Xavier Cooks, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Derek Rucker \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Bryce Hamilton, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jack McVeigh, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Jack Heverin \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Xavier Cooks, Bryce Hamilton, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Jo Healy \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Tyson Walker, Jack McVeigh, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Will Magnay
John Casey \u2013 Mason Jones, Bryce Cotton, Izaiah Brockington, Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay
Lachie Reid \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Xavier Cooks, Kristian Doolittle
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Izaiah Brockington, Bryce Hamilton, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Will Magnay
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Milton Doyle, Bryce Hamilton, Xavier Cooks
Pete Hooley \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Bryce Hamilton, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Kristian Doolittle
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Jack McVeigh, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., JaVale McGee<\/p>\n

Most votes: Bryce Cotton \u2013 14, Kendric Davis \u2013 11, Jack McVeigh \u2013 10, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. \u2013 6, Bryce Hamilton \u2013 5, Kristian Doolittle \u2013 4, Xavier Cooks \u2013 3, Izaiah Brockington \u2013 3, Will Magnay \u2013 3, JaVale McGee \u2013 2, Javon Freeman-Liberty \u2013 2, Casey Prather \u2013 1, Montrezl Harrell \u2013 1, Mason Jones \u2013 1, Tyson Walker \u2013 1, Tyler Harvey \u2013 1, Milton Doyle \u2013 1, Parker Jackson-Cartwright \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
Best Defensive Player<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 JaVale McGee
Ariana Prather \u2013 Sam McDaniel
Brad Rosen \u2013 Will Magnay
Damon Lowery \u2013 JaVale McGee
Derek Rucker \u2013 Will Magnay
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 JaVale McGee
Jack Heverin \u2013 Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk
Jo Healy \u2013 Will Magnay
John Casey \u2013 Will Magnay
Lachie Reid \u2013 Will Magnay
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Shea Ili
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Sam McDaniel
Pete Hooley \u2013 Will Magnay
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Shea Ili<\/p>\n

Most votes: Will Magnay \u2013 6, JaVale McGee \u2013 3, Sam McDaniel \u2013 2, Shea Ili \u2013 2, Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
Coach of the Year<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 Mike Wells
Ariana Prather \u2013 Adam Forde
Brad Rosen \u2013 Mike Wells
Damon Lowery \u2013 John Rillie
Derek Rucker \u2013 John Rillie
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 John Rillie
Jack Heverin \u2013 Scott Roth
Jo Healy \u2013 Adam Forde
John Casey \u2013 Justin Tatum
Lachie Reid \u2013 Dean Vickerman
Lanard Copeland \u2013 John Rillie
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Dean Vickerman
Pete Hooley \u2013 Adam Forde
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Adam Forde<\/p>\n

Most votes: Adam Forde \u2013 4, John Rillie \u2013 4, Mike Wells \u2013 2, Dean Vickerman \u2013 2, Justin Tatum \u2013 1, Scott Roth \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
Most Improved Player<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 Jaylin Galloway
Ariana Prather \u2013 Will Hickey
Brad Rosen \u2013 Owen Foxwell
Damon Lowery \u2013 Kody Stattmann
Derek Rucker \u2013 Jaylin Galloway
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 Karim Lopez
Jack Heverin \u2013 Owen Foxwell
Jo Healy \u2013 Ben Henshall
John Casey \u2013 Jaylin Galloway
Lachie Reid \u2013 Kody Stattmann
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Kody Stattmann
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Jaylin Galloway
Pete Hooley \u2013 Will Hickey
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Owen Foxwell<\/p>\n

Most votes: Jaylin Galloway \u2013 4, Kody Stattmann \u2013 3, Owen Foxwell \u2013 3, Will Hickey \u2013 2, Ben Henshall \u2013 1, Karim Lopez \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
Best Sixth Man<\/p>\n

Brad Rosen \u2013 Flynn Cameron
Damon Lowery \u2013 Flynn Cameron
Jack Heverin \u2013 Angus Glover
Jo Healy \u2013 Marcus Lee
John Casey \u2013 Jaylin Galloway
Lachie Reid \u2013 Tanner Krebs
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Kouat Noi
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Isaac White
Derek Rucker \u2013 Isaac White
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 Izayah Le\u2019Afa
Pete Hooley \u2013 Tyson Walker<\/p>\n

Most votes: Flynn Cameron \u2013 2, Isaac White \u2013 2, Jaylin Galloway \u2013 1, Angus Glover \u2013 1, Marcus Lee \u2013 1, Tanner Krebs \u2013 1, Kouat Noi \u2013 1, Izayah Le\u2019Afa \u2013 1, Tyson Walker \u2013 1<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
One new face you\u2019re excited to watch<\/p>\n

Andrew Gaze \u2013 JaVale McGee
Ariana Prather \u2013 Javon Freeman-Liberty
Brad Rosen \u2013 JaVale McGee
Damon Lowery \u2013 Mawot Mag
Derek Rucker \u2013 Javon Freeman-Liberty
Felix Von Hofe \u2013 Reyne Smith
Jack Heverin \u2013 Bryce Hamilton
Jo Healy \u2013 Izaiah Brockington
John Casey \u2013 Izaiah Brockington
Lachie Reid \u2013 Javon Freeman-Liberty
Lanard Copeland \u2013 Javon Freeman-Liberty
Olgun Uluc \u2013 Zylan Cheatham
Pete Hooley \u2013 Javon Freeman-Liberty
Steph Baumgartel \u2013 Admiral Schofield<\/p>\n

Most votes: Javon Freeman-Liberty \u2013 5, JaVale McGee \u2013 2, Izaiah Brockington \u2013 2, Bryce Hamilton \u2013 1, Mawot Mag \u2013 1, Reyne Smith \u2013 1, Zylan Cheatham \u2013 1, Admiral Schofield \u2013 1<\/p>\n

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