{"id":482930,"date":"2026-02-16T04:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T04:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/482930\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T04:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T04:11:09","slug":"goorjian-backs-davis-in-mvp-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/482930\/","title":{"rendered":"Goorjian backs Davis in MVP battle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brian Goorjian had deliberately stayed out of the NBL MVP debate. But when Mike Wells declared the race over, he felt he had no choice but to respond.<\/p>\n

The Sydney Kings coach launched a strong defence of Kendric Davis, making it clear the battle for the Andrew Gaze Trophy is far from decided.<\/p>\n

As Davis has lifted his play throughout NBL26, the MVP conversation has grown louder. Goorjian had been careful not to fuel it, preferring to keep his focus elsewhere. That changed after Wells claimed Bryce Cotton had the award locked up following his 42-point match-winner against New Zealand on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Davis answered in the best possible way on Sunday.<\/p>\n

In Sydney\u2019s 102\u201384 win over Perth, he delivered 30 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in just 32 minutes, shooting 11-of-17 from the field and 6-of-9 from three. The performance pushed the Kings to a 10-game winning streak and kept them on top of the ladder.<\/p>\n

Goorjian may not have wanted to enter the conversation, but after Wells\u2019 comments, he stepped up firmly in support of his point guard, declaring the MVP race very much alive.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI was taken aback by it and I don\u2019t want to get into this because this has kind of put me in a position after yesterday listening, and I’ve gotta bring my guy into this,\u201d Goorjian said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was such a strong push but in our mind, we started this season and no one had us in the top four coming in and what’s happened? We have a chance as we sit right now today, we’re on top of the ladder, we’ve played them (Adelaide) four times and beaten them three.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s (Davis) having a season that goes down in Sydney Kings’ history as one of the best individual performances of any player to put on this uniform, and then this whole aspect of him as a leader and him as a person all of that came across as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goorjian still doesn\u2019t feel entirely comfortable framing Davis through an MVP lens. His focus remains on winning a championship with him running the team at point guard. But he made it clear he wasn\u2019t going to let the moment pass without backing his player.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s defended Davis in-game all season. Now he\u2019s doing it publicly.<\/p>\n

And the numbers leave little room for doubt. Davis is averaging 24.2 points, 6.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds, shooting 47 per cent from the field and 35 per cent from three across the season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

That form has gone to another level during Sydney\u2019s 10-game winning streak.<\/p>\n

Across that stretch, Davis is averaging 25.7 points, 8.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds, shooting 53 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from three.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s ticked a lot of boxes and when I do this, I feel uncomfortable with it, but I look at the guys on the team as my sons, and no it’s not over,\u201d Goorjian said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a chance to finish on top, we’re still playing and nobody has voted yet and he’s had an unbelievable season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t want to do this, but I want it known that it’s not over and we wouldn\u2019t trade Kendric for anybody and we’re having a stellar regular season so he is definitely in the mix and he’s definitely special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goorjian might not enjoy stepping into the MVP debate, but his message was clear. The race isn\u2019t decided. The Kings are still winning. And in his eyes, Davis remains right at the heart of it.<\/p>\n

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