Crystal ball: Way too early NBL23 predictions

It’s time to take the first look into the NBL23 crystal ball.

While there are still some key player signings to be announced and pre-season form to assess, our panel of experts have provided their way too early predictions for NBL23.

Who will win the MVP? 
Liam Santamaria – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Peter Hooley – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Andrew Gaze – Aron Baynes (Brisbane Bullets) 
Corey Williams – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Jenni Screen – Bryce Cotton (Perth Wildcats) 
Matt Logue – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Jo Healy – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Kane Pitman – Rayjon Tucker (Melbourne United)
Michael Houben – Rayjon Tucker (Melbourne United)
Damon Lowery – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Popular picks: Xavier Cooks (six votes)

Who will win the Coach of the Year?  
Liam Santamaria – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Peter Hooley – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Andrew Gaze – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Corey Williams – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Jenni Screen – Chase Buford (Sydney Kings)
Matt Logue – John Rillie (Perth Wildcats)
Jo Healy – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Kane Pitman – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Michael Houben – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Damon Lowery – CJ Bruton (Adelaide 36ers)
Popular picks: CJ Bruton (five votes), John Rillie (four votes) 

Who will make the All-NBL First Team?
Liam Santamaria – Derrick Walton Jr, Bryce Cotton, Rayjon Tucker, Aron Baynes, Xavier Cooks
Peter Hooley – Craig Randall II, Rayjon Tucker, Bryce Cotton, Xavier Cooks, Aron Baynes
Andrew Gaze – Aron Baynes, Bryce Cotton, Tyler Johnson, Brady Manek, Mitch Creek
Corey Williams – Xavier Cooks, Bryce Cotton, Craig Randall II, Mitch Creek, Dejan Vasiljevic
Jenni Screen – Aron Baynes, Bryce Cotton, Xavier Cooks, Luke Travers, Dejan Vasiljevic
Matt Logue – Bryce Cotton, Tyler Johnson, Antonius Cleveland, Xavier Cooks, Aron Baynes
Jo Healy – Bryce Cotton, Mitch Creek, Rayjon Tucker, Xavier Cooks, Aron Baynes
Kane Pitman – Bryce Cotton, Rayjon Tucker, Mitch Creek, Xavier Cooks, Robert Franks
Michael Houben – Rayjon Tucker, Derrick Walton Jr, Bryce Cotton, Mitch Creek, Xavier Cooks 
Damon Lowery – Xavier Cooks, Mitch Creek, Daniel Johnson, Bryce Cotton, Tyler Harvey
Popular picks: Byron Cotton (ten votes), Xavier Cooks (nine votes)

Who will win the Most Improved Player? 
Liam Santamaria – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers)
Peter Hooley – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers)
Andrew Gaze – Isaac Humphries (Melbourne United) 
Corey Williams – Kyrin Galloway (Adelaide 36ers) 
Jenni Screen – Dejan Vasiljevic (Sydney Kings)
Matt Logue – David Okwera (Melbourne United)
Jo Healy – Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) 
Kane Pitman – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers)
Michael Houben – William McDowell-White (New Zealand Breakers) 
Damon Lowery – Isaac Humphries (Melbourne United)
Popular picks: William McDowell-White (four votes), Isaac Humphries (two votes)

Who will be the next NBL player to make the NBA? 
Liam Santamaria – Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers) 
Peter Hooley – Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United) 
Andrew Gaze – Luke Travers (Perth Wildcats)
Corey Williams – Craig Randall II (Adelaide 36ers)
Jenni Screen – Kai Sotto (Adelaide 36ers) 
Matt Logue – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) 
Jo Healy – Ariel Hukporti (Melbourne United)
Kane Pitman – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Michael Houben – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings) 
Damon Lowery – Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
Popular picks: Xavier Cooks (four votes), Ariel Hukporti (two votes)

Which player or team will be this season’s surprise packet?
Liam Santamaria – Akoldah Gak (Illawarra Hawks)
Peter Hooley – New Zealand Breakers
Andrew Gaze – Adelaide 36ers
Corey Williams – Brisbane Bullets
Jenni Screen – Brady Manek (Perth Wildcats) and Brisbane Bullets
Matt Logue – Brisbane Bullets
Jo Healy – Brisbane Bullets
Kane Pitman – Kouat Noi (Sydney Kings) 
Michael Houben – Sam Waardenburg (Cairns Taipans) and DJ Mitchell (Brisbane Bullets)
Damon Lowery – Illawarra Hawks
Popular picks: Teams - Brisbane Bullets (four votes)

In no order, who will make the Finals (including the Play-In Tournament)?
Liam Santamaria – Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, South East Melbourne, Sydney
Peter Hooley – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, South East Melbourne, Perth
Andrew Gaze – South East Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide
Corey Williams – Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, South East Melbourne, Sydney, Perth
Jenni Screen – Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, New Zealand, Tasmania 
Matt Logue – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, South East Melbourne 
Jo Healy – Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, South East Melbourne, Perth
Kane Pitman – Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, South East Melbourne, Brisbane
Michael Houben – Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, South East Melbourne, Illawarra
Damon Lowery – Adelaide, Sydney, South East Melbourne, Melbourne, Perth, Illawarra
Popular picks: Adelaide (Ten votes), Perth (ten votes), Sydney (ten votes), Melbourne (nine votes), South East Melbourne (nine votes), Brisbane (eight votes)

Who will win the championship?  
Liam Santamaria – Melbourne United 
Peter Hooley – Adelaide 36ers 
Andrew Gaze – Sydney Kings 
Corey Williams – Perth Wildcats
Jenni Screen – Sydney Kings
Matt Logue – Perth Wildcats
Jo Healy – Melbourne United
Kane Pitman – Sydney Kings
Michael Houben – Sydney Kings 
Damon Lowery – Adelaide 36ers
Popular picks: Sydney Kings (four votes), Melbourne United (two votes), Adelaide 36ers (two votes), Perth Wildcats (two votes)